We all know some basic food safety habits to prevent the spread of bacteria—washing our hands properly and sanitizing our kitchen counters and tools on a regular basis. However, there are some less-known rules we should follow to keep our food safe.
Wash Your Reusable Bags
We should all switch from plastic to reusable bags, and if you already did that—good for you. Just make sure to wash your shopping bags on a regular basis, because they carry dangerous bacteria.
Don’t Leave Food Out Too Long
Don’t make a habit of leaving food on your kitchen counter overnight—or for more than a couple of hours for that matter. Leftovers should be put in the fridge as soon as possible, cooked dishes and foods such as sliced fruits and veggies shouldn’t be out for more than one or two hours.
Clean Your Cleaning Tools
The last thing we would ever suspect is that our cleaning tools—such as sponges and dishrags—are one of the dirtiest things in our kitchen. The truth is that these tools are a hotbed of bacteria, and they can be pretty dangerous if we don’t clean and change them regularly.
Check Your Fridge Temperature
Did you know that the thermometer in your fridge should read below 40 F? Bacteria grow at temperatures over 40°F, so every part of the fridge should be cold enough to to keep your food safe.
