Recently, the issue of food safety and hygiene has come to the fore with the exposure of food delivery services using expired ingredients and demonstrating poor hygiene. Since food is directly linked to our lives, it must be safe and free from harmful elements. People often neglect food safety and hygiene, harming their health with incorrect knowledge. Let’s look at ten truths and misconceptions about food safety and hygiene that we may already know or have never known before.
Can leftover food be stored in the fridge?
Most people store leftover food in the refrigerator. However, since bacteria can also inhabit the refrigerator, it is good to follow the storage method and period for leftover food. If stored in the refrigerator, it is best to eat within 3-4 days, and the leftover food that the spoon touched should be reheated and stored when the food is cool before putting it in the refrigerator.
Is it okay to eat chocolate with white spots?
You found old chocolate with white spots. Is it okay to eat? The white spots on the surface of the chocolate are called “blooming,” a physical change that occurs when the chocolate melts and then solidifies again due to the humidity and temperature of the chocolate storage location. It does not affect your health, so you can eat it without concern.
Should meat and poultry always be rinsed?
Most foods are typically rinsed before cooking. However, meat and poultry should not be rinsed. If you wash meat and poultry in water, bacteria can spread around, and if the water used to clean the beef splashes onto ingredients that won’t be boiled, there may be a danger of bacterial infection. Moreover, poultry contains Campylobacter, which is the cause of food poisoning, so extra caution is needed.
Is soft-boiled dangerous?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 80% of food poisoning caused by salmone occurs after eating raw or soft-boiled eggs. Eggs should be cooked thoroughly, both the egg white and yolk, rather than eaten raw. Also, even if eggs have been stored in the refrigerator, avoid old ones; if the taste is slightly off, throw them away. Pregnant women are especially at risk of bacterial infection from eating raw food, so it is best to avoid soft-boiled eggs.
Can you eat food that has fallen on the ground?
You may have heard of the five-second rule. The story goes that it’s safe if you pick up and eat food that has fallen on the floor within five seconds. Is it okay to eat within five seconds? The degree of contamination of dropped food is influenced more by “how dirty the floor is” than by how long it has been dropped on the floor. In conclusion, no matter how long the food stays on the floor, the food can be sufficiently contaminated if there are many germs on the floor surface.
Is the cutting board dirtier than the toilet?
Shocking research found that the number of bacteria on the cutting board used in the kitchen is hundreds of times the number in the toilet. The material of the cutting board varies, such as wood, plastic, and silicone, and the lifespan differs depending on the material or frequency of use. It is good to use different cutting boards to prevent bacteria in meat and seafood from transferring to fruits or vegetables or to prevent smells from being absorbed. Furthermore, changing the cutter at least once a year is recommended.
Can I drink the water left out overnight the next day?
Water is essential for about 60-70% of our bodies. It is well known that drinking water frequently is good for the body. If So, can you drink a glass of water left out before going to bed the next day? Although it seems like all kinds of fine dust would be floating around, it is known to be suitable for drinking as it is neither too cold nor too warm. However, putting a lid on the cup is better to prevent foreign substances or dust from entering.
Can you freeze food waste?
Single households or students living alone who produce less food waste store it in the freezer. The reason is that the cold environment of the freezer is safe from bacterial propagation. However, the freezer is not a place where the temperature drops rapidly but slowly, so there is a high probability that bacteria will proliferate throughout it. It’s a better place for psychrophilic bacteria that move actively in cold areas, so let’s throw away food waste immediately.
Are the storage containers inside the refrigerator clean?
The transparent storage container inside the refrigerator is a place to store fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits. This place, which most people thought would be clean, is not clean. NSF International announced that the storage container inside the refrigerator was the most neglected place in the kitchen. This is because all kinds of bacteria are swarming unexpectedly. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent the accumulation of bacteria.
Can frozen food be thawed at room temperature?
The most crucial part when thawing frozen food is that it should be thawed quickly. If it is left at room temperature for a long time to thaw, bacteria such as E. coli can increase, and you may be exposed to diseases. The safest way to thaw frozen food is “refrigerator thawing.” If you don’t have much time, you can thaw it in water below 21℃. At this time, seal it well so that water does not get in.
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