{"id":245021,"date":"2024-06-19T20:59:18","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T20:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/?post_type=articles&p=245021"},"modified":"2024-06-19T20:59:18","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T20:59:18","slug":"home-kitchen-food-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Foodborne illnesses are sneaky culprits in kitchens. Hate to say it, but harmful bacteria have a way of lurking on and in all sorts of surfaces, nooks and crannies, from your sink and refrigerator handles to your chopping boards, knives and hand towels \u2014 only, though, if you don\u2019t get to them first. <\/p>\n

That begs the question: how do we get to them first?! Let\u2019s break it down. <\/p>\n

Boards, Boards, Boards <\/strong>
\nJust like the red, yellow and green indicators on stop lights, you may or may not know that there\u2019s a universal color code system in commercial kitchens when it comes to chopping boards to prevent cross-contamination. Red boards are typically used for cutting raw meat; yellow for raw poultry; blue for fish<\/a> and seafood; white for dairy; brown for cooked food; and green for fruits and veggies. We\u2019re not saying you have to go out and buy multi-colored chopping boards, but at the very least, consider using a plastic board (or overlay for your wooden board) for processing raw meat and fish \u2014 and designate that specific board for meat and fish prep only. <\/p>\n

Wooden boards \u2014 especially heavily used ones \u2014 tend to have more grooves and crevices that can harbor salmonella and other bacteria, so they\u2019re better for veggies and cooked meats and food. Once you\u2019re done prepping your raw meat or fish, immediately wash the board, your knife and your hands thoroughly with soap and water \u2014 do not pass go or collect $200 \u2014 and definitely don\u2019t open a fridge door or touch any other objects. You\u2019ll even want to use the back of your hand to get the soap out and turn the sink on (bonus points if you have automated dispensers and faucets). Then, spray and clean the area where you were working if you really want to ensure extra cleanliness. And even though you washed your plastic board with soapy water, consider running it through the dishwasher to sanitize every few uses or so. For wooden boards, wash with soapy water and consider investing in mineral oil or other specialty wood cleaner\/moisturizer to keep the board clean and hydrated (and to prevent more grooves and cracks from forming). <\/p>\n

Knives and Sharp Objects<\/strong>
\nSeems counterintuitive and you probably know this by now, but when it comes to knives and shears, the sharper the better to prevent cutting yourself! Knives should be sharp enough to cut through a piece of paper held up \u2014 dull knives make for unstable chopping (e.g., onion<\/a> bulbs and other ingredients slipping out of your hands), and cause accidents. When it comes to proper knife sanitation, avoid tossing them into the sink along with your other dirty dishes. That can lead to accidental cuts later if you\u2019re doing some washing and don\u2019t see a sharp object hiding underneath all the suds and clutter.<\/p>\n

To properly clean and store your knives, wash with warm, soapy water, dry thoroughly and always store in a designated knife holder or rack (avoid tossing them in a drawer; they\u2019ll dull faster from all the jostling around and you can cut yourself if you\u2019re grabbing around in there while working quickly). <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another tip; when storing knives in a holder, position them with the sharp side on top \u2014 another way to cut down on premature dulling.<\/p>\n

Safe Food Storage<\/strong>
\nCommercial kitchens follow a simple but efficient formula for avoiding cross-contamination in refrigerators. Always store raw meat and fish on the lowest shelf with nothing beneath it. That way, if (potentially) bacteria-laden juices drip down, they won\u2019t do so on other raw ingredients or containers in shelves below. Store raw meats in the wrapper they are in or placed in a bowl or on a tray\u2014it\u2019s especially important to do this if you\u2019re transferring frozen product from the freezer to the fridge to thaw to avoid the condensation and any juices from flowing out onto the shelf. <\/p>\n

When it comes to condiments and packaged products, keep note of expiration dates and follow a first in, first out rule with the \u201colder\u201d product moved up to the front. For cooked leftovers, use them within three to four days, otherwise the risk for bacteria growth goes up. If you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll eat the leftovers (or if you have lots of leftover cooked rice or pasta<\/a>), transfer them immediately to the freezer (when cooled) for longer-term storage. Frozen foods will last up to a year, although taste and texture might degrade after a few months. <\/p>\n

Now that you have these important safety tools in your back pocket, your risk of contracting or spreading a foodborne illness in your home just went way down! Always let safety and sanitation be your guide when it comes to good kitchen prep and cooking. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Foodborne illnesses are sneaky culprits in kitchens. Hate to say it, but harmful bacteria have a way of lurking on and in all sorts of surfaces, nooks and crannies, from your sink and refrigerator handles to your chopping boards, knives and hand towels \u2014 only, though, if you don\u2019t get to them first. That begs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":245022,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":[],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHome Kitchen Food Safety Tips - Just A Pinch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Just A Pinch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/justapinch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kitchen Crew\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@justapinchcooks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Just A Pinch Recipes\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/justapinchcooks\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/justapinchcooks\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/justapinch\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/justapinch\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/justapinchcooks\"],\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PinchLogo_Square_no_tagline.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PinchLogo_Square_no_tagline.png\",\"width\":543,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Just A Pinch Recipes\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Just A Pinch\",\"description\":\"Food Bites & Articles\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1600},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/\",\"name\":\"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips - Just A Pinch\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-06-19T20:59:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-19T20:59:18+00:00\",\"description\":\"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips\"}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips - Just A Pinch","description":"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips","og_description":"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/","og_site_name":"Just A Pinch","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/justapinch","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1600,"url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kitchen Crew","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@justapinchcooks","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Just A Pinch Recipes","url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/instagram.com\/justapinchcooks","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/justapinchcooks","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/justapinch","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/justapinch","https:\/\/twitter.com\/justapinchcooks"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PinchLogo_Square_no_tagline.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/PinchLogo_Square_no_tagline.png","width":543,"height":543,"caption":"Just A Pinch Recipes"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/","name":"Just A Pinch","description":"Food Bites & Articles","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety.jpg","width":2000,"height":1600},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/","name":"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips - Just A Pinch","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2024-06-19T20:59:18+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-19T20:59:18+00:00","description":"Safety and sanitation tips for your home kitchen, from tools to practices. Everything you need to know to keep your family safe.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/245021\/home-kitchen-food-safety-tips\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/articles\/read\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Home Kitchen Food Safety Tips"}]}]}},"fimg_url":["https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/fd9460ae-kitchen-safety-1024x819.jpg",800,640,true],"msn_title":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/245021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/245021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245023,"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/245021\/revisions\/245023"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justapinch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}