In the warmer months, Brits will be looking out for opportunities to host BBQs or parties to celebrate the good weather. It is important for Brits to keep food safe this Summer as we at Alliance Online believe that the health and safety when preparing food should be of utmost priority. We have prepared the following tips to help keep your food safe this Summer.
- Ensure your hands and utensils are clean
To avoid cross-contamination, you should clean your hands before and after handling food. This is particularly important when you’ve been handling raw meat, charcoal or firelighters. Before BBQ season kicks off, it’s a good idea to ensure that the BBQ is clean and ready to use. BBQs are typically stored outdoors, so make sure to check that they’re in good condition and free of old food or debris.
- Avoid cross-contamination
You can easily avoid cross-contamination by storing raw meat separately from ready-to-eat foods such as bread rolls, salad and chips. You should use different knives and chopping boards for preparing raw meat and fish and cooked food, and wash your hands before and after each food type.
- Keep food covered
To keep the food safe this BBQ season, ensure you cover dishes and keep food in the fridge where possible and appropriate. This reduces the risks of food spoiling in the warm summer sun, and before you get to enjoy the BBQ.
- Cook food all the way through
For at-home BBQs, cook meat all the way through, ensuring there is no pink in the middle of burgers or sausages, for example. This kills the harmful bacteria that could cause food poisoning if ingested. It’s recommended to use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat is at the right temperature, or cutting a burger in half to ensure it’s cooked through works as well.
- Put leftovers in the fridge
During a heatwave, it’s important to keep the food refrigerated. Put any leftovers in the fridge quickly, after it has cooled, reducing the risk of bacteria forming in the food. It’s recommended not to leave out food for any longer than two hours when temperatures are higher than usual, like in the summer months.
- Thaw meat properly
During a heatwave, it’s recommended to thaw meat in the fridge, rather than at room temperature. Doing this reduces the risk of harmful bacteria growing and spoiling the food.
At Alliance Online, we understand that modern commercial establishments need to prepare food safely and effectively as the priority should always be placed on a customer’s wellbeing. For our full range of cooking equipment and food preparation suggestions please feel free to take a look at our website. To learn more about our offerings please don’t hesitate to call us on 01270 252333 or you can email us at hello@allianceonline.co.uk.
