Food Safety
Tips & Tech
Americans Love To Eat, But Hate To Cook
- Americans spend more on eating out than buying groceries
- More than 1 in 4 Americans don’t know how to cook
- In 2015, restaurant sales surpassed grocery sales for the first time
- In January 2019, Grocery sales: $56 billion – Restaurant sales: $61 billion
Restaurant meals are about 3X as expensive as cooking at home – Learn to cook safely and save big!
Food Safety Basics: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill
Clean
- Wash your hands before and after touching food (Use warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds)
- Wash your tools and countertops after each food item (Use hot water and soap)
- Rinse all produce and clean cans and jars before opening
Separate
- Separate raw meat and eggs in your shopping cart, bags, and fridge
- Use a dedicated cutting surface for raw meat
- Wash plates and tools used for raw meat before reuse
Cook
- Just because a food is “done” doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat
- Always heat raw meat, eggs, and other dishes to a safe temperature
- Don’t let cooked foods sit – keep them hot until you’re ready to serve
Chill
- Return food to the fridge or freezer quickly – within 2 hours of cooking
- Thaw frozen foods in the fridge, under cold water, or in the microwave
- Refrigerate raw meats while marinating – Never reuse marinades (Unless boiled after each use)
Temperature Matters
How To Check Food Temperature
- Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached a safe temperature
- Check food in several places to ensure it’s cooked evenly
- Calibrate your thermometer in ice water, adjusting the reading to 32℉
- Keeping foods at the right temperature ensures they’re safe to eat
Minimum Safe Temperature
Cooking:
- Steaks, roasts, and chops (beef, pork, lamb, and veal): 145 °F
- Ground meat (beef, pork, lamb, and veal) and eggs: 160 °F
- Poultry, casseroles, and leftovers: 165 °F
Keep Warm:
- Keep cooked foods hot until served, at least 140℉
- An Instant Pot or Slow Cooker takes the guesswork out of cooking – And keeps dishes hot (and safe) until you’re ready to serve
Storage:
- In the refrigerator: 32 – 40℉
- Freezer: Below 0℉
Learning to cook can be daunting, but new tech makes it easier than ever!
See also: My favorite over range microwaves
Start Cooking Today
Taylor Digital Measuring Cup:
- A combined digital scale and measuring cup – Holds up to 4 cups or 6.6 lbs
- Easily convert weight and volume measurements for better accuracy
Days Ago Tracker:
- Attach the tracker to open jar or container of leftovers with suction cup
- Digital tracker records how many days have passed
Drop Food Scale:
- WiFi-connected, compatible with iOS, Android, Alexa, and Google Home
- Syncs with recipe app to adjust measurements and find substitutions
Hiku Fridge Magnet:
- Scans barcodes or recognizes your voice to build a grocery list
- Syncs with mobile app and online shopping cart
Range Dial Grill Pro:
- The thermometer wirelessly connects to your phone to monitor cooking temp
- Alerts you when the safe temp is reached using preset for the type of meat
See also: Recommended wireless meat thermometers
There’s An App For That
Project Foodie:
- Recipes and video tutorials from celebrity chef Daniel Holzman
- Easily adjust serving sizes and creates an instant grocery list
- See what tools you need and get recommendations on what to buy
Substitutions:
- Database of ingredient substitutions to customize any recipe
- Personalize to fit your diet with vegan, gluten-free, and other filters
- Don’t have the right tools? Find alternatives and tricks
Cooking Times:
- A combination calculator and timer helps you get it right every time
- Select the type of dish, cooking temp, and size or quantity
- Use recommended timer or edit and create your own
SideChef:
- Plan your weekly meals and organize your favorite recipes
- Create a shopping list and order delivery from within the app
- Learn from how-to videos, audio guides, and illustrated tutorials
Chef Tap:
- Curate your favorite recipes from any website, blog, or family cookbook
- Access anywhere from desktop, tablet, or phone – Online or offline
- Build grocery list and adjust the serving size in the app
See also: Why do you actually need a food scale?
Resources:
- hiku.us
- cheftap.com
- getdrop.com
- howmanydaysago.com
- census.gov/econ/currentdata
- Cook to the Right Temperature
- Separate: Don’t Cross Contaminate
- SideChef Recipes
- Substitutions app
- Cooking Times
- Food Safety at Home
- Food Safety in the Kitchen
- How To Calibrate Your Food Thermometer
- Project Foodie: Guided Cooking
- What’s Keeping Americans out of Their Kitchens? National Survey Reveals the Top Excuses for Not Cooking