Here comes Mother’s Day; a day for hosting a gathering for our mothers. For many of us, it is a time to serve convenience food, so we have more time to enjoy our company.
The Partnership for Food Safety Education wants you to know that to prevent food-related illness due to under-cooking frozen or other convenience foods follow these four simple tips:
1. Read and follow package cooking instructions.
2. Know when to use a microwave or conventional oven.
3. Know your microwave wattage before microwaving food.
4. Always use a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature.
The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service wants you to know the following about keeping party foods safe:
- Make sure all food is cooked thoroughly before serving.
- Store prepared foods in shallow pans so they cool quickly and evenly. Reheat and serve small amounts on platters while the remaining food stays hot in the oven.
- Don’t let food stay at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Use chafing dishes, warming trays or slow cookers to keep foods hot.
- Surround dishes of cold foods with ice.
Both government agencies are quick to remind us that taking precautions when preparing and serving food can spare us the misery of a food-induced illness.