You know that keeping a clean kitchen is the first step in deterring unwanted pests, but safe and proper food handling is the key to keeping your family healthy. Follow these simple rules in the kitchen to ensure your family is protected from bacteria. First make sure you wash your hands and kitchen surfaces often. Rinse all fruits and vegetables and clean cutting boards between food items.
The next step is to separate raw meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs from other foods in the shopping cart, grocery bag, and refrigerator so that you don’t cross-contaminate. Always cook foods to the proper temperatures; this includes left-over’s that need to be reheated. And finally refrigerate foods quickly. Put perishable items in the refrigerator as soon as you get home from the store and never thaw items at room temperature!