SOM - Preparing Food

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Preparing Food

There are two key words to keep in mind in preparing food:
CLEAN AND SEPARATE!

Here are a few tips to help you:

Wash hands in hot, soapy water before preparing food, and after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets. It is also a good idea to wash hands after preparing each dish so there is less risk of cross contamination.
Keep raw meat, poultry, fish and their juices away from other food. If you slice raw chicken on a cutting board, thoroughly wash the board, knife and kitchen counter with hot, soapy water before preparing the salad.
Use plastic or glass cutting boards instead of wood boards, where bacteria can hide in grooves.
Defrost frozen meat in the microwave or the refrigerator, NEVER on the kitchen counter. Bacteria can grow in the outer layers of the food before the inside thaws. Always marinate meat in the refrigerator too.


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