The memorial holiday and warm weather are arriving this weekend and it's the ideal time to cook out. But warm temperatures are also ideal for bacteria and other foodborne illness. Use these simple guidelines for grilling your food safely.
When shopping for meat and poultry, put them in the shopping cart last, just before checkout. Guard against cross contamination, which happens when raw meat or poultry juices drip on other foods, by putting packages of raw meat and poultry into plastic bags. Be sure to take your grocery purchases straight home. If home is more than a 30-minute drive, take a cooler with ice to transport the food safely. When you arrive at home, place meat and poultry in the refrigerator immediately.
Some recipes call for meat and poultry to be marinated for several hours. Always marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Don't reuse marinade unless it's boiled first to destroy bacteria.
