Investigating Bbq Food Safety

Investigating Bbq Food Safety

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Bbq Food Safety

Cases of food poisoning double within the summertime, therefore be sure you know the simple steps that will help to keep food safe.

Food poisoning is generally moderate, and most people get better inside a week. However sometimes it can be worse, actually lethal, therefore its vital that you take the dangers seriously. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to food poisoning.

"The safest choice would be to cook food inside making use of your stove," states a spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency (Fsay). "You may then place the cooked food outside on the barbecue for flavour." This can be an simpler choice if you are cooking for a number of people simultaneously.

But if you'd rather cook on the barbecue, the two main risk factors are:

undercooked meat

spreading germs through uncooked meat on to food that is ready to consume

The reason being uncooked or even undercooked meat may contain bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as salmonella, E.coli as well as campylobacter. However, its easy to kill these types of bacteria by cooking meat until it's piping hot throughout.

Cooking meat on a barbecue

When you are cooking any kind of meat on the barbecue, such as chicken (chicken or turkey), pork, steak, burgers or sausages, make certain:

The hot coals are glowing red with a powdery gray surface before you begin cooking, as this means that they're hot enough.

Frozen meat is properly thawed out before you cook it.

You turn the meat regularly and move it around the barbecue to cook it evenly.

Remember that meat is safe to consume only if:

It is actually piping hot in the centre.

There isn't any pink meat visible.

Any juices are clear.

"Dont presume that because meat is charred on the exterior it will be cooked properly inside," says the Fsa spokesperson. "Cut the meat at the thickest part and ensure none of it is pink on the inside."

Some meat, such as steaks and joints of beef or lamb, can be served rare (not cooked in the centre) as long as the exterior has been properly cooked. This will kill any kind of germs that could be on the outside of the meat. However, food made from minced meat, for instance sausages and burgers, must be cooked completely all the way through.

Raw meat

Germs from raw meat can move very easily onto your hands, and then on to anything else you contact, including food that's cooked and ready to eat. This is known as cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination sometimes happens if raw meat touches anything (including dishes, cutlery, tongs and chopping boards) which then comes into contact with other food.

A few simple steps to help prevent cross-contamination are:

Wash your hands after every time you contact raw meat.

Use separate utensils (dishes, tongs, storage containers) for cooked and raw meat.

Never place cooked food on a dish or surface which has had uncooked meat on it.

Keep uncooked meat inside a covered container away from foods which are ready to eat, for example salads and buns.

Dont put raw meat next to cooked or partly-cooked meat on the bbq.

Dont place sauce or marinade on cooked food if it has already been used with raw meat.

Keeping food cool

It is also vital that you keep some foods cool to avoid food-poisoning bacteria spreading.

Be sure you keep the subsequent foods cool:

salads

dips

milk, cream, yogurt

desserts as well as cream desserts

sandwiches

ham along with other cooked meats

cooked rice, including rice salads

Do not leave meals out of the refrigerator for more than a couple of hours, and do not leave food under the sun.

See the Food Standard Agency's GermWatch campaign.

Fire safety

Make sure your barbecue is steady on a level surface, away from plants and trees and shrubs.

The fire Service recommends covering the bottom of your bbq with coal to some depth of a maximum of 5cm (2in). Use only recognised firelighters or starter fuel, and then only on cold coals.

Never make use of petrol on a bbq.

About the Author:
If you would like to learn more about which barbecue suites your needs:
http://www.bbqbarbecues.co.uk/
http://www.bbqbarbecues.co.uk/charcoal-bbqs-3346-0000
http://www.bbqbarbecues.co.uk/patio-bbqs-3348-0000



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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