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Cooking Temperatures Temperatures Cooking Temperatures Millions of people fall victim to food poisoning every year, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to death. The most vulnerable among us--the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with underlying health problems--are the most at risk from food borne illness. Keep Cold Foods Cold and Hot Foods Hot One of the major causes of food poisoning is improper cooking and handling with regard to temperature. In other words, cold foods need to be kept cold, hot foods need to be kept hot and certain foods need to be cooked to a specific temperature to kill any pathogens that may be present. In addition, cooked foods should be kept hot until they are eaten or refrigerated and the temperature in your refrigerator should be at 40° F. or lower. In order to assure the safety of frozen foods, your freezer temperature should be at 0° or below. Remember not to purchase frozen foods that are soft or that have thawed and refrozen and be sure to refrigerate meats, eggs and other perishables as soon as possible. Please note that the food safety of many perishable foods deteriorates rapidly at temperatures between 40°. and 140° F. Here is a list of perishable foods and the temperatures that keep them safe. Click here for a printable copy of this safe cooking temperatures list.
How food makes you sick There are two major ways that food can poison you and make you sick. Foods contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, or E-coli can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Then there are foods that contain toxins, either naturally or as a result of microbes such as Staphylococcus or Botulism. Both types of foodborne illness can cause severe illness and even death. Please seek medical help if you experience diarrhea lasting more than three days, difficulty breathing or swallowing, bloody stools, double vision, heart palpitations or dizziness, or a fever lasting more than a day or so. Click here to go from Cooking Temperatures List page to Outdoor Grilling Tips page. How to Use This Site BOOKMARK this site or add it to your Favorites. Become an informed eater by clicking on the NUTRITION button and reading the general information there. Check back whenever you have a question about your diet, meal planning, nutrition, specific foods or any healthy eating issues. Use the SITE SEARCH function to track down your particular concern. Try some of the free recipes available on the site by clicking on the RECIPES button. E-mail me if you can’t find what you are looking for, if you feel that any of the information on the site is not accurate, or just to say hello!
Cooking Temperatures Cooking Temperatures Cooking Temperatures
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