By Jamie Martin
As Super Bowl festivities approach, it's crucial to prioritize food safety to ensure a successful party free of penalties like foodborne illnesses. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provides guidelines designed to keep your party foods safe from bacteria.
Dr. Denise Eblen from the USDA advises, "Make sure that takeout or delivered food is quickly refrigerated or placed in an oven until your guests arrive." This helps mitigate the risk of bacterial growth.
To combat bacteria, avoid leaving food at room temperature for more than two hours, especially those in the Danger Zone between 40 F and 140 F. Utilize warming trays or slow cookers to keep hot foods hot and ice to keep cold foods chilled.
Implementing food safety practices at your Super Bowl party is simple: start with properly storing and reheating takeout. Keep foods in shallow containers for quick cooling and reheat to a minimum internal temperature of 165 F as measured by a food thermometer.
Cleaning and separating are also vital. Ensure that hands, utensils, and surfaces are cleaned regularly and that raw and cooked foods do not mix to prevent cross-contamination.
For those preparing food, always use a food thermometer to confirm safe internal temperatures: 145 F for whole meats, 160 F for ground meats, and 165 F for all poultry.
The USDA FSIS also provides resources for those with food safety questions, including a hotline and online chat services, ensuring you have the support needed to keep your Super Bowl party safe.
Adhering to these USDA guidelines will help ensure that your game day is memorable for the right reasons—great food and good company, without the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National