Cooking Safely with Meat
Simple Steps for Food Safety
Wash
Wash hands and surfaces frequently with hot, soapy water. Also make sure to use hot, soapy water on cutting board, dishes and utensils after preparing each food item and before preparing the next.
Separate
Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood and their juices from ready-to-eat foods and other foods in a grocery cart and your refrigerator.
Cook
Cook all foods to the proper recommended temperature to ensure that potentially harmful, foodborne illness-causing bacteria are killed. Use a clean thermometer during cook to gauge internal temperature.
Refrigerate or Freeze
Refrigerate or freeze prepared foods, leftover and perishables within two hours. Also, marinate foods in the refrigerator and never defrost food at room temperature. Cold temperatures will help keep harmful bacteria from growing.