These days, we spend more and more time and money eating out in restaurants. While this can be an enjoyable event from time to time, it can also be quite expensive-for both our waistlines and our pocketbooks. Instead of eating out, consider preparing a home-cooked meal this evening for your family. To ensure that the meal is both tasty and safe, make sure that the food has been stored properly, the appropriate temperature for your refrigerator has been maintained, spoiled foods have been discarded, and the refrigerator has been cleaned on a regular basis.
Store your Foods Properly
Storing your foods properly helps prevent a number of serious food borne illnesses. For best results, fruits, vegetables, and other similar products should be stored on the top shelf of your refrigerator. Ground beef, poultry, and fish should be stored under these products on the middle shelf of your refrigerator. Finally, beef, chicken, and fish steaks should be stored on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. The order of these items reflects the severity of the food borne pathogens found within the foods. If a pathogen from a fruit or vegetable, for example, happened to drip or fall onto a package of ground beef, the risks would not be severe. Similarly, the risks posed if a food borne pathogen found in ground beef dripped onto a package of chicken breasts would be quite minor. If the order of these foods were reversed, however, serious illness could occur.
Maintain Appropriate Temperatures
Maintaining appropriate temperatures is also important to prevent possible food borne illness. Most refrigerators should be kept below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Research has found that pathogens found in food have a difficult time growing at these temperatures. Check the thermostat on your refrigerator on a regular basis to ensure that it is in proper working order. While most refrigerator thermostats can be easily checked at home, others may have to be adjusted by a certified refrigerator repair professional.
Discard Spoiled Foods
When food is identified as having spoiled, it should be discarded immediately. Saving spoiled food not only is dangerous, but can be quite unappealing. The status of the foods in your refrigerator should be reviewed at least once a week for signs of mold and other deterioration. Foods that have been previously prepared may be especially at risk for the development of mold. With the exception of certain cheese and other aged products, moldy food should never be eaten, as if can cause serious illness. If you ever eat food that you suspect may have been spoiled, seek medical care as soon as possible. If you cannot get an appointment with your regular primary care physician within a reasonable period of time, consider visiting your local emergency or urgent care center.
Sanitize the Refrigerator on a Regular Basis
Refrigerators should be cleaned with soap, water, and other sanitizing agents at least once a month to prevent the spread of germs. While it may be easy for some individuals to clean their refrigerator on their own, those who have a difficult time getting down on their knees-or back up again-may want to hire a professional cleaning service for this task. Depending on the amount of cleaning that is required; this service may vary quite a bit in price.