Summer is possibly the most popular season of the year. And why not? Longer days, outdoor activities and lots of good food to eat. Unfortunately, summer is also known as a food-borne illness season.

The warm temperatures of summer are the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive in the kitchen. And the backyard cookout can be another environment that encourages food contamination and the possibility of food poisoning.

Here are four tips on keeping your food safe this summer so that you don’t miss a second of the fun:

1. Cooking on the grill

More than one case of food poisoning has come from meat that’s undercooked. In fact, some of the more severe illnesses can result from eating partially raw or rare red meat. Since summer is the season for grilling burgers, make sure you cook the burgers absolutely thoroughly, all the way through, with no pink showing.

Many people grill in the summer when they are not used to grilling or cooking at other times, setting the stage for cooking inaccuracies. Be sure there is no red juice from burgers pierced with a fork. A good way to make sure that your meat is thoroughly  cooked, set the burgers on a white platter and let them rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. If any reddish juice ends up on the platter during the rest period, put the burgers back on the grill for a few more minutes.

2. Washing up

Summer is a wonderful time for picnics and cookouts but many times there is no hand-washing facility available at the cooking site. Bring jugs of water and antibacterial soap and disinfectant wipes to the site so that you have these crucial elements available for food preparation and surface clean-up.

Any time you handle raw meat, wash thoroughly before handling other foods, especially foods that won’t be cooked such as vegetables, fruits, or bread. You should also wash hands before handling utensils and cutting surfaces.

3. Coolers

When you transport foods like potato salad or burger meat, they need to be kept cold en route. Pack plenty of ice or frozen “ice” blocks/gel packs along with the food. One good idea is to freeze water in used, plastic water bottles and distribute those around the food in the cooler and insulated freezer bags. On the way, keep the cooler in the car where it’s air conditioned rather than in the trunk.

4. Put food away

With all of the running in and out of the house for activities, it’s easy to forget foods on the counter. In the summer, it’s especially important to put food back into the refrigerator or freezer after using. At cookouts and picnics, have a cooler handy to put leftovers into right away. It’s said that food should not be at room temperature or exposed to warm outdoor weather for more than two hours.

Using these tip and general common sense should keep you and your family healthy and ready for summer living!
photo credit: bulletsoul23