Cooking shows can be a great resource for new recipes, but recent studies show that contestants and or hosts skip proper food safety steps. This means that if you follow some of these programs step by step while you cook, you could be making your meal unsafe for you and your family to eat.
Food safety practices aren’t often talked about during cooking programs. It is up to the consumer to keep an eye out for bad practices and know when to veer from the course of the television show. The most important component is this: knowing when a pivotal food safety precaution is being skipped. Foodsafety.gov is an excellent educational resource for cooking safely in your home.
Lack of education could explain why fewer consumers report washing their hands before handling food, cooking to proper temperatures or separating raw proteins, like poultry and meat, from ready-to-eat foods like vegetables. Ensure you aren’t skipping these important steps when cooking to help keep bacteria out of your meal.
Ultimately, food safety is up to you. Cooking shows can be a great place to find dinner ideas, but it is important you know how to prepare that meal safely.
Remember these food safety steps when cooking at home:
- Clean your prep area and wash your hands thoroughly before cooking and after touching raw protein.
- Separate raw protein and ready-to-eat food.
- Cook food to proper temperatures using a food thermometer. Don’t rely on color or smell alone.
- Chill food within two hours of cooking.
For more information on safe food handling in your home visit Foodsafety.gov.