Chances are you are in the thick of BBQ season. I know we are! BBQ’s all week long. This summer (well for the first half at least), we are in the confines of an apartment with no grill - gasp!-. We’ve been lucky enough to have a few friends in our new space that have invited us over to BBQ with them and we are taking advantage big time!
Luckily, realizing a few things about food safety and BBQing, can make for a summer filled with fun instead of a crummy sickness because of not being careful enough. Warm weather presents the perfect breeding temperature for bacteria so unfortunately, summer is a time when sickness can occur.
Roughly 1 in 6 Americans get sick from food poisoning each year!
Fourth of July is coming and there are some great ways to be festive at the same time as being safe. I’ve found a few of them. Get ready to order up if you’re having a party;)
- Red White and Blue Meat Thermometers - Make sure to check the temperature of your meat before serving. Seeing isn’t always believing. Just because the inside of a hamburger may be brown doesn’t mean it is safe. Keep in mind that adding different “mix-ins” to burgers can sometimes affect the length of time it takes them to cook. Here is a chart with safe minimum temperatures in it.
- American Flag Silicone Oven Mitts - Keep your hands safe and stylish at the same time. Taking things off the grill isn’t always worth the quick grab. The same goes for those appetizers and desserts that are in the oven. Protect your mitts!
- Insulated Cooler: Red, White, and Blue - Carry cold, perishable raw meats in an insulated cooler filled with ice or frozen gel packs. Defrosting the meat too much or letting it become warm can lead to bacteria growth and sickness.
- Red Serving Dishes - Keep dairy and other refrigerated items in muliple smaller sized serving dishes so that not one is out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours. Having multiple of the same dish allows you to switch them in and out.
- Multiple Serving Spoons - The more serving spoons and appetizer plates, the less chance of double dipping!
Now that you are all set with your safe, Fourth of July gear, check out these Recipes for Disaster! <-a hilarious video!
