Although the United States food supply is incredibly safe, around one in six Americans end up with food poisoning every year. Food poisoning occurs when your food is contaminated by nasty bacteria (like staphylococcus or E. coli), which is commonly caused by improper food handling or storage. Food hygiene at home therefore shouldn’t be an afterthought. By taking key food hygiene steps, you can better keep your kitchen hygienic and your food safe and fresh.
Keep Your Refrigerator at the Right Temperature
Keeping your fridge at the right temperature is essential for keeping bad bacteria at bay and, consequently, preventing the risk of food poisoning.
The ideal temperature for your refrigerator, according to the FDA, is at or below 40°F – however, by keeping it even lower at between 35°F-38°F, you can better protect your food from harmful bacteria (once it gets any warmer than 40°F, bacteria starts multiplying fast). 35°F-38°F is as cold as your food can get without freezing. In fact, temperatures any higher than this may even be too warm for your refrigerator (particularly if the in-built temperate gauge isn’t truly accurate).
In that case, you’ll also find the contents of your fridge goes off too fast, which in turn can cause tummy upsets thanks to bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.
Prevent Pests
One essential aspect of maintaining food safety in your kitchen is ensuring proper pest control measures are in place, such as contacting a reliable pest control company like pest control Columbus Oh to handle any infestations.
As many as 124 million households across the U.S. have reported seeing roaches in their homes in the past year, while 14.8 million have seen rodents. Pests carry a host of diseases, as well as the potential to damage your home.
Pest prevention should therefore be a key priority for everyone. So, for example, be sure to wipe down your counters regularly to ensure there’s no lingering crumbs or spills. Peanut butter, in particular, is a huge magnet for cockroaches and rodents.
You should keep the outside of the jar clean, and store it safely away in a closed cupboard. Ideally, you should also store dried foods like flours, grains, and seeds in food-safe jars or Tupperware; packets can be easy to spill and are tempting for pests.
Wash your Dish Towels Regularly
You may not realize it, but your dish towels are major breeding grounds for bacteria, particularly if they’re damp. It’s therefore crucial to wash them regularly.
Ideally, you want to wash your dish towels at 140°F or hotter (just be careful not to exceed the maximum temperature stated on the care label).
The high heat ensures bacteria and other nasties are killed successfully. Similarly, your washing-up sponges also harbor harmful bacteria, so you’ll also need to wash these just as often.
For example, you can soak them in an antibacterial sterilizing solution, before writing them out, and leaving them to air dry. You may also want to invest in sponges that can be machine washed at high heats like 140°F.
Food hygiene should be a key consideration in every kitchen. By keeping your refrigerator at the right temperature, preventing pests, and washing your dish towels regularly, you can prevent unwanted pests and germs and keep your kitchen safe.
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