10 Food Safety Tips

Here are a few food safety tips from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

1. Keep cold foods cold, at 40 degrees or below, and hot foods hot at 140 degrees or above.

2. Use an instant-read food thermometer so meats are cooked to safe temperatures.

3. Wash your hands and frequently clean cooking surfaces. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat or poultry.

4. Keep raw meat, poultry and egg products separate from already cooked items to avoid contamination.

5. Refrigerate items properly.

6. Store food as soon as you arrive home from the store.

7. Don't leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.

8. Don't thaw meats on the counter. Defrost them in the refrigerator.

9. Don't taste food to see whether it has gone bad. If there's a doubt, throw it out.

10. Don't allow juices from raw meats or other items to mix.

If you have other tips to add, please jot them down in the comment section.