Most of us like cooking for our families. It’s a chance to give them something nice, that they will enjoy. But you need to be vigilant. If you are not careful you can easily end up giving them a nasty bout of food poisoning.
Surprisingly, 40% of all cases that are bad enough for a trip to the doctor or hospital are caused by home-cooked food. This happens despite your trying to keep everything hygienic. Sadly, there are a few things many of us still forget to do. Things that can lead to food poisoning. Here are the top ways to avoid giving you and your family food poisoning…
Thoroughly clean your microwave on a regular basis
Microwaves are used for cooking, defrosting and warming up all kinds of food. Learning how to clean a microwave properly is essential. When you cook something in a microwave a lot of moisture is generated. If you do not wipe it out properly the condensation from your last meal gets recirculated and drips into whatever you cook next. You are potentially sprinkling every meal with germs that have been growing for hours, or even days.
It is, therefore, wise to wipe the microwave out in between uses (with disinfectant), which takes less than a minute. Remember to lift the turntable and mop up any moisture that has collected underneath.
Change your kitchen cloths throughout the day
Many of us do not change our kitchen clothes often enough. This is bad news. One study found that 77% of sponges and clothes carry coliform bacteria. A stunning 18% were infected with Staph. Rinsing them in extremely hot water helps, but only up to a point. Using a new cloth is a far better way to ensure you are not simply spreading germs from one place to another.
Change your tea towels as often as needed too – every other day or so is recommended depending on how often you use them. It is wise to wash them and your clothes at 60 degrees. If you prefer not to use such a hot setting, which is understandable, try this method.
Keep the inside of your fridge hygienically clean
Fridges are vectors for germs. Something that surprises a lot of people. They figure that the cool temperature keeps germs at bay, which to a certain extent it does. But bacteria, mold, and other bugs can still grow gradually in a fridge.
If you spill something. wipe it up immediately. This habit alone will make a huge difference to how clean your fridge is. Every month pull out all of the shelves and wash them in hot soapy water. This enables you to reach all of the nooks and crannies where food matter can build up and become a home to germs.
We all get a bit lax at times, without really realizing it. Life is busy, so it is only natural to forget things. So, now and again, take a minute to take a critical look at your hygiene standards. It is better to tweak those than end up with a family member in the hospital.
About Jammie Morey
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