LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Sharing holiday meals with friends and family is an important part of the holiday season.
Commissary customers are reminded that with a little bit of care and knowledge, foodborne illness is almost entirely preventable.
Consider these four tips:
1) Cook meat thoroughly: A meat thermometer should be among your "must-have" kitchen utensils to ensure food has reached the desired state of doneness and a temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria.
2) Wash your hands, including under your fingernails, thoroughly and often with soap and water. Use paper towels to wipe counters and floor spills. Wash countertops, cutting boards and utensils in hot soapy water between each step in food preparation.
3) Separate raw and cooked foods: Experts agree that accidental food-to-food or surface-to-food cross contamination is one of the biggest culprits in the spread of food borne illness.
4) Refrigerate, thaw, serve and store foods properly: Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Cover and refrigerate leftovers within two hours of serving. Store leftover meats or poultry in their own separate containers. Use leftovers in a timely fashion. For most items this means within one to three days.
For more information, visit www.commissaries.com.