Newswise — Summer's heat brings thoughts of hamburgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill. It also offers challenges in safe food preparation and storage.
According to a recent national survey, 56 percent of outdoor chefs don't know the proper temperature to grill meats to, ensuring they are cooked thoroughly. In addition, a third leave perishables outside, unrefrigerated in hot weather, for more than two hours, creating a perfect environment for bacterial growth.
Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, offers the following summer food safety tips:"¢ Make sure grilled meats are cooked to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Purchase an inexpensive meat thermometer for your grill. "¢ Pack plenty of ice in coolers to store raw and leftover foods. Leftovers should be refrigerated within an hour of cooking during hot weather."¢ Wash hands before digging into the picnic basket. If there's no running water, bring along moist towelettes or antibacterial hand sanitizer."¢ Use color-coded coolers and utensils to keep raw meats separate from cooked meats and other prepared foods.
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