Cooking Tips Information

10 Smoky Tips To BBQ Food Safely


Cooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. Use these simple guidelines for grilling food safely to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing food-borne illness.

1. Defrosting

Completely defrost meat and poultry before grilling so it cooks more evenly. Use the refrigerator for slow, safe thawing or thaw sealed packages in cold water. You can microwave defrost if the food will be placed immediately on the grill.

2. Marinating

Meat and poultry can be marinated for several hours or days to tenderize or add flavor. Be sure to marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. If some of the marinade is to be used as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of the marinade before putting raw meat and poultry in it. However, if the marinade used on raw meat or poultry is to be reused, make sure to let it come to a boil first to destroy any harmful bacteria.

3. Transporting

When carrying food to another location, keep it cold to minimize bacterial growth. Use an insulated cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs to keep the food at 40° F or below. Pack food right from the refrigerator into the cooler immediately before leaving home. Keep the cooler in the coolest part of the car.

4. Keep Cold Food Cold

When using a cooler, keep it out of the direct sun by placing it in the shade or shelter. Avoid opening the lid too often, which lets cold air out and warm air in. Pack beverages in one cooler & perishables in a separate cooler.

5. Keep Everything Clean

Be sure there are plenty of clean utensils and platters. To prevent food-borne illness, don't use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry. Harmful bacteria present in raw meat and poultry and their juices can contaminate safely cooked food.

6. Cook Thoroughly

Cook food to a safe internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe internal temperature. Whole poultry should reach 180° F; breasts, 170° F. Hamburgers made of ground beef should reach 160° F; ground poultry, 165° F. Beef, veal, and lamb steaks, roasts and chops can be cooked to 145° F. All cuts of pork should reach 160° F. NEVER partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later.

7. Keep Hot Food Hot

After cooking meat and poultry on the grill, keep it hot until served -- at 140° F or warmer. Keep cooked meats hot by setting them to the side of the grill rack, not directly over the coals where they could overcook. At home, the cooked meat can be kept hot in a warm oven (approximately 200° F), in a chafing dish or slow cooker, or on a warming tray.

8. Serving Safely

When taking food off the grill, use a clean platter. Don't put cooked food on the same platter that held raw meat or poultry. Any harmful bacteria present in the raw meat juices could contaminate safely cooked food.

9. Safe Smoking

Smoking is done much more slowly than grilling, so less tender meats benefit from this method, and a natural smoke flavoring permeates the meat. The temperature in the smoker should be maintained at 250° F to 300° F for safety. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe internal temperature.

10. Pit Roasting

Cooking may require 10 to 12 hours or more and is difficult to estimate. A meat thermometer must be used to determine the meat's safety and doneness. There are many variables such as outdoor temperature, the size and thickness of the meat, and how fast the coals are cooking.

Terry Nicholls
My Home-Based Business Advisor
www.my-home-based-business-advisor.com

Copyright © by Terry Nicholls. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

Terry Nicholls is the author of the eBook "Food Safety: Protecting Your Family From Food Poisoning". In addition, he writes from his own experiences in trying to start his own home-based business. To benefit from his success, visit My Home-Based Business Advisor - Helping YOUR Home Business Start and Succeed for free help for YOUR home business, including ideas, startup, and expansion advice.


MORE RESOURCES:

Energy saving cooking tips
Northern Daily News, Canada - Nov 21, 2008
What can we do with little money to promote energy conservation and efficiency? The answer is really quite simple --time equals energy. ...


Taste of Home cooking tips
FayObserver.com, NC - Nov 11, 2008
Instructor Michelle Roberts offered the following cooking tips: If you chop anything that leaves a strong odor, such as garlic, washing your hands won’t get ...


Hormel launches interactive Web site with cooking tips
Post-Bulletin, MN - Nov 3, 2008
By Tim Ruzek Hormel Foods. Corp. has launched its first Web site dedicated to the company's largest brand -- Hormel. This morning, the Austin-based company ...
Hormel Website Offers Interactive Experience KAALtv.com
Hormel launches Web site with cooking tips Post-Bulletin
all 5 news articles


Nation's turkey producers not so thankful this year
LubbockOnline.com, TX - 12 hours ago
Butterball, the market leader, will again be running its telephone hot line and is now offering cooking tips via text message as well. ...


Examiner.com

Buying your Thanksgiving turkey
Examiner.com - Nov 17, 2008
... is a little different from the turkey you may be used to. Be sure to check out these tips in preparation: http://www.cavenyfarm.com/CookingTips.php.


Parade Magazine

a Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving
Parade Magazine - 23 hours ago
To view video highlights from these makeovers and to download B.'s diabetes-friendly recipes and cooking tips, visit www.JourneyForControl.com . ...


Local Author Amelia Painter to be Featured at Book Fair
Emailwire - Nov 19, 2008
Also found in the cookbook are easy to follow recipe notes with helpful cooking tips, fun stories, comments for using the recipe, and cooking tips from the ...


Helpful Hands make donations
Reporter-Times, IN - Nov 21, 2008
Juanita Wesseler gave a lesson on no calorie sweetners and baking and cooking tips on using them in recipes. A “Sweet Cheat Sheet” was given to each club ...


First off, make a game plan.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - Nov 18, 2008
KraftFoods.com: The food company's Web site offers recipes, cooking tips and a holiday entertaining guide. • LandoLakes.com: Land O'Lakes offers tips, ...


Stuffing or Dressing? By Either Name, 48% of Survey Respondents ...
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
... for cooks of all skill levels seeking trusted recipes, entertaining ideas, everyday and holiday meal solutions, practical cooking tips and food advice. ...

Cooking-Tips - Google News

home | site map
© 2008