Page 39 - Robeson Living Winter 2020

ies between raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and vegetables. formation, contact Ashley McRae, Extension Adult Expanded
Separating foods is important because it helps in preventing Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant with North
cross-contamination. The simple step of using separate cutting Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, at
boards for meats and vegetables - or sanitizing between cutting 671-3276, or by e-mail at [email protected].
the two - aides in reducing the spread of foodborne illness. You
can also practice your separating skills whenever you grocery NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are col-
shop by keeping products separated in your cart, on the con- lectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportu-
veyor belt at checkout, and in your car on the ride home. nity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of
age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity,
Next, let’s look at how we can safely cook what we consume. genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, re-
When preparing meats, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish you ligion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and vet-
want to be sure that you are cooking them to a safe temperature. eran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agricul-
You can purchase food thermometers at various retail chains. ture, and local governments cooperating.
Thermometers can range in price, but are typically very afford-
able. When checking the temperature of your food, be sure ABOUT N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
to place your thermometer in the thickest parts of the meat to N.C. Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC
ensure thorough cooking (do this in several places for at least State Extension, The Cooperative Extension Program at N.C.
10 to 15 seconds.) Safe temperatures for meats are as follows: A&T State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and
• Fish, seafood, beef, and pork cuts should reach 145º local governments statewide. Extension professionals in all
Fahrenheit internally. 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
• Ground beef and other ground meats should reach 160º connect millions of North Carolinians with research-based in-
Fahrenheit internally. formation and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T. Edu-
• Ground or whole poultry, like turkey and chicken, cational programs specialize in agriculture, food and nutrition,
should reach 165º Fahrenheit internally. 4-H youth development, community development, and the en-
vironment.
After safely preparing food, you may want to store what you
have for a later meal; this is where chilling comes in. For any
leftovers that you have to store, divide the food into shallow
containers for faster cooling. Placing the food into smaller
containers also creates more storage space in your refrigerator Prepare for
or freezer. You will want to refrigerate or freeze foods quickly. power outages
Be mindful of how long your food has been sitting out. If you
notice it has been longer than 2 hours, discard promptly as you with a Generac
may run the risk of becoming ill.
home standby
Once foods have been stored frozen over a period of time, you generator
may decide to thaw those items to prepare for a meal. Thaw-
ing is just as important as the other concepts shared for food
safety. When thawing foods never place them on the counter. REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
Instead place them on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, us-
ing a plate underneath to collect any juices. Frozen foods can 855 933 4912
also be placed in room temperature water to thaw; however,
that water must be changed every 20 to 30 minutes to prevent
the growth of bacteria. You can also utilize the microwave to
defrost frozen foods. Be sure to keep a watchful eye though, FREE
as the microwave may begin to cook what you are defrosting.
7-Year Extended Warranty*
The benefit of being safe in the kitchen is far greater than the A $695 Value!
risk we take by not being careful, and it takes minimal effort
to prevent foodborne illness. If you are interested in learning O er valid December 15, 2020 - March 1, 2021
more about food safety, best practices, or useful tips that can
keep you and your family safe in the kitchen, reach out to your Special Financing Available
Adult EFNEP Nutrition Educator at your local North Carolina Subject to Credit Approval
Cooperative Extension office for more details. For more in- *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the
generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.
Robeson Living ~ Winter 2020