Ways to Keep Holiday Food Safe.

PositionUSDA - Brief article

Some of us stay home for the holidays; others travel to visit relatives or friends. No matter the destination, one thing that does not change is that food is part of the celebration.

The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service advises that, prior to food preparation, clean your hands for 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Always serve food on clean plates and avoid reusing plates that previously held raw meat and poultry. Separate raw and cooked foods so you do not cross contaminate, and cook using a food thermometer to make sure food reaches a safe minimum internal temperature.

Remember to chill leftovers within two hours of cooking. Keep track of how long items have been sitting on the buffet table and discard anything that has been out too long.

Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb, and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145[degrees]F before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality reasons, allow meat to rest for at least three...

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