Thursday, October 12, 2023, 6:46 p.m
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Some habits in the kitchen can lead to serious health consequences PHOTO Pixabay
The kitchen can be a place of potential danger if certain precautions are not taken. Susan McKelvey is a food safety expert and author of Kitchen Rules: How to Cook Without Poisoning Yourself.
She explained which habits in the kitchen can lead to serious health consequences and why they should be avoided.
Five habits that Susan believes urgently need to be changed:
1. You forget to wash your hands before preparing food. This is the most common mistake that can cause infection or poisoning. Hands carry many bacteria, viruses and fungi that can get on food or utensils, so before handling a knife or spoon, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. You don’t check the expiry date of the products. Many people rely on their sense of smell or taste to determine whether a product is fresh or not. However, it is not always a reliable method, as some micro-organisms can multiply in products without visible signs, so it is best to always look at the production date and the expiry date of the products and do not consume them after the date expiration.
3. You don’t heat the food to the required temperature. If you want to reheat leftovers or cook prepared foods, you need to make sure they reach a temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius. This will help destroy possible disease-causing pathogens. You can use a food thermometer to check the temperature or simply see if the food is boiling or sizzling.
4. You did not store the food correctly. To extend the shelf life of food and avoid spoilage, you must follow the rules of food storage. For example, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and some vegetables and fruits should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature not exceeding 5 degrees Celsius. Other products can be stored in a cool, dry place away from light and moisture. Prepared food should be packed in tightly closed containers or foil and should not be kept for more than two days.
5. Don’t wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Even if you buy organic fruits and vegetables, that doesn’t mean they’re clean. They may contain traces of soil, pesticides, bacteria or other substances that can harm health, therefore, before eating raw fruits or vegetables or preparing salads from them, they must be rinsed well under running water or, better, you leave them to soak in a solution of vinegar or soda for a few minutes.
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2023-10-12 15:50:19
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