Every year in the United States there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness and 3,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
With the upcoming holiday weekend, it’s important to take steps to keep food safe from bacteria if you’re planning a cookout or get together.
“If you’re not safe or careful, they can make you sick, and we definitely don’t want our 4th of July festivities ruined by foodborne illness,” said Meredith Carothers with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Carothers says there are four steps to take to keep food safe.
Step 1: Clean
Keep your hands, utensils and surfaces clean before, during and after you prepare food.
Step 2: Separate
Keep raw meats away from other ready to eat foods to avoid cross-contamination.
“Using a new utensil as you’re putting raw food on the grill and then using a new utensil before you take the cooked food off the grill, not using the same one,” said Carothers.
Step 3: Cook
Make sure that meat you’re grilling reaches the correct temperature, which will vary based on what food you’re preparing.
Carothers says using a food thermometer is key.
“Grilling makes food look done before it actually is,” she said. “A lot of times on the grill, we love those grill marks, am I right? So, making sure you’re using a food thermometer will help you make sure that your food is fully cooked.”
Step 4: Chill
Don’t leave food that can spoil out for more than two hours at room temperature. That time is cut in half if you’re outside in high heat.
Also, Carothers said to keep this in mind for leftovers:
“If they have been out for longer than that, they would not be safe to keep,” she said. “So unfortunately, we would recommend throwing them away at that point.”
If you plan to transport food to a get together, the USDA says that food needs to also be kept at a safe temperature.
Putting foods in a cooler or insulated bag with cold sources like ice or frozen gel packs, or even frozen water bottles, can help keep the food at the right temperature during your trip.