Everyday kitchen mistakes that could cause food poisoning

Man picking up bell pepper from the refrigerator.
Man picking up bell pepper from the refrigerator.

Nobody ever wants to catch food poisoning, and we will often avoid certain restaurants and cafés just in case they make us sick. But how careful are you at home? Here are five mistakes you could be making.

Using tea towels to dry dishes

Have a think: how long has that tea towel been hanging in your kitchen, and when was the last time it was washed? Tea towels are notoriously overused, for everything from drying your hands to mopping up spills, and they can all-too-quickly become a breeding ground for germs. So rather than potentially smearing bacteria all over your nice clean plates, why not give air-drying a go? Pop your dishes in a dish rack – you’ll also save yourself half the trouble of the nightly clean-up.

Defrosting food incorrectly

Micro-organisms can grow rapidly in food at temperatures between 5° and 60°C, so you should allow your foods to thaw slowly in the fridge rather than out on the bench – especially on hot days. Also make sure you defrost your meat on the bottom shelf of the fridge, to avoid any raw meat juices dripping onto your other foods without you knowing.

Having your fridge at the wrong temperature

Your fridge’s temperature is probably something you never think about – but if it’s too warm, bacteria can grow within it. Ensure it is approximately 3-5°C so your food stays fresh. You should also avoid over-crowding your fridge, as when it’s too full air cannot circulate properly between all the items – leading to uneven cooling which can potentially spoil your food.

Not washing your hands properly

We all know we should wash our hands before starting meal prep – but just one wash usually isn’t enough. You should also wash your hands throughout the cooking process, any time you touch raw meat or handle food waste. Try not to touch anything else (such as the oven or fridge handles) until you do so. Neglecting to do this could allow bacteria to spread.

Mixing cooked and raw foods

You shouldn’t let raw meat touch cooked meat or any ready-to-eat foods, as this can cause cross-contamination and lead to food poisoning. Always use separate plates, cutting boards and utensils for your raw meats and your ready-to-eat foods, and never put cooked meat back on the same plate it was on when it was raw. Furthermore, if you’ve marinated your meat, you should never reuse that marinade on cooked food as it will contain pathogens from the raw meat.

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