Tips for cooking a safe Christmas dinner
Posted Dec 23, 2015 09:30:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Region of Waterloo Public Health is reminding everyone to make sure they follow safe food practices when preparing your Christmas dinner.
Aldo Franco, Manager of Health Protection and Investigation at The Region of Waterloo Public Health says keeping food separate and surfaces clean are important.
Franco says that if you are taking home leftovers to make sure to put it in the refrigerator or freezer within two hours to avoid disease-causing bacteria to grow.
If you are cooking a turkey, Franco says make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 82 degrees Celsius and to cook the stuffing separately.
Other ways to be food safe when entertaining over the holidays include:
If preparing food for a party, never defrost food on the kitchen counter before cooking. Thaw meat safely in the fridge or under cold running water to avoid the growth of bacteria that can make you sick.
If hosting buffet style, use warming units or ice trays if the food will be out longer than two hours. Remember: keep the hot stuff hot and the cold stuff cold.
If taking food to a party, keep hot foods at 60 degrees Celsius or warmer, and cold foods at four degrees Celsius or colder.
