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Food Safety FAQ's
Q: What makes the bugs grow?
Q: How do I keep my food safe?
Q: Where should I store raw meat in my fridge?
Q: What temperature should I cook food to?
Q: How do I know when the meat is fully cooked?
Q: If I want to use my leftovers, how should I reheat them?
Q: How do I microwave food properly?
Q: Why is it so important to refrigerate foods?
Q: What is the correct temperature for a fridge?
Q: How do I keep my fridge clean?
Q: What should I do with frozen foods?
Q: Is it safe to refreeze food that has already been defrosted?
Q: How do I defrost my food properly?
Q: Can I use my microwave to defrost food?
Q: Have you any other food safety tips?
Q: What makes the bugs grow?
A: Bacteria love food, warmth, moisture and time. They thrive at body temperature (37°C) but grow in the danger zone between 5°C and 63°C. At room temperature, bacteria can multiply into millions after only a few hours on one piece of food!
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Q: How do I keep my food safe?
A: Wash your hands before handling food. Make sure you clean all preparation and eating surfaces thoroughly. Use separate chopping boards for raw meat, poultry and fish and for vegetables, salads or bread. And finally to avoid cross-contamination, never place cooked food next to uncooked food.
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Q: Where should I store raw meat in my fridge?
A: Always store raw meat alone on the bottom shelf of the fridge so that juices cannot drip onto other food. Never place other food in direct contact with raw meat, poultry, fish or unwashed vegetables. Pack your raw meat, poultry and fish separately at the supermarket.
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Q: What temperature should I cook food to?
A: Food should be cooked to a core temperature of 70°C for two minutes. Consider buying a meat thermometer.
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Q: How do I know when the meat is fully cooked?
A: If you don't have a thermometer, be sure to cook burgers, chicken and pork thoroughly – there should be no pink areas and juices should run clear.
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Q: If I want to use my leftovers, how should I reheat them?
A: Lukewarm food is perfect for fast growing bacteria. If you are reheating, only do it once. Make sure you reheat to piping hot (70°C) - this applies to both solid and liquid cooked food. Leftover food should be kept in the fridge for no more than three days.
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Q: How do I microwave food properly?
A: Microwaves cook differently so follow the instructions on the pack. If your microwave has no turntable, make sure you stir or turn the food during its cooking cycle. Always leave the food to sit for at least a minute afterwards because microwaves continue to cook food after it has been removed from the oven.
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Q: Why is it so important to refrigerate foods?
A: The reason we refrigerate foods such as meats, dairy products and certain vegetables and fruits is that bacteria do not thrive below 5°C.
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Q: What is the correct temperature for a fridge?
A: The correct temperature for a fridge is between zero and 5°C. At this temperature the food remains ready for cooking or eating and the bacteria or viruses do not multiply.
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Q: How do I keep my fridge clean?
A: Discard old food and wash inside surfaces with warm soapy water. Don't overstuff your fridge - this raises the temperature, especially if the kids are constantly opening the door to graze. When you want to keep leftovers, let the steam evaporate first and then cover and store in the fridge. Put your chilled foods away quickly when you come home from shopping.
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Q: What should I do with frozen foods?
A: Always buy your frozen foods last and pack separately to other foods. Don't leave them in the boot of the car for long periods and put them in your freezer as soon as you get home. If you are home freezing, always date your food and follow the instructions on the length of time you should store any particular food type. Do not freeze food if it has gone beyond its “use by” date.
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Q: Is it safe to refreeze food that has already been defrosted?
A: Never thaw and refreeze.
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Q: How do I defrost my food properly?
A: If you defrost slowly in the fridge, this means planning ahead. Take out the meat or dish ahead of time and leave it in the fridge rather than on the counter top.
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Q: Can I use my microwave to defrost food?
A: If you do defrost using the microwave, cook the dish immediately.
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Q: Have you any other food safety tips?
A: Always wash fruit under the cold tap. Never leave food out for longer than two hours. If you are feeling unwell don't prepare foods for others. Clean your fridge and cupboards regularly. If tinned food shows any bulges, throw it out.
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