Food safety and good kitchen hygiene are related, but most of us still tend not to maintain hygiene when handling fresh food. Many parents try to involve their children in cooking, it gives both more time together and the children a chance to learn new exciting things. Research has shown that children who early learn good food handling and hygiene in the kitchen bring with them knowledge throughout their lives. What you do, your children will also do.
Here are the ten best tips for better hygiene in the kitchen:
1. Remove rings and other jewelry and wash your hands carefully before you start working in the kitchen.
The bacteria thrive on their hands and spread easily to the food, so be sure to wash your hands before you begin.
2. Clean the kitchen counter.
Kitchen countertops live a tough life. Most things end up on that bench. Not just food but maybe also food bags, backpacks, schoolbooks, wallets and keys. Wash the kitchen sink with warm water every day and use detergent at least once a week.
3. Clean your cutting boards.
An average cutting board can have up to 200 percent more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat. Therefore, be sure to wash the cutting boards regularly. Plastic cutting boards can be washed in a dishwasher. For wood cutting boards, use warm water and a washing sponge with detergent.
4. Wash fruits and vegetables.
Rinse with cold water to wash away pesticides and dirt. Also, you never know how many hands have taken on the apple before eating it.
5. Keep raw foods chilled.
It is especially important for fish that should not leave the fridge earlier than 30 minutes before use.
6. Wash hands when changing the workplace in the kitchen.
Again, washing your hands is important to avoid contagion. Have a habit of always washing your hands when changing jobs.
7. Do not leave dirty dishes in a pile in the sink.
A pile of dishes is a feast for bacteria.
8. Wash your hands before you start eating.
It cannot be overstated. Let the bacteria from the kitchen stay in the kitchen. Do not bring them to the dining table.
9. Dispose of leftover food in a bin with a lid.
Are you sorting the source? Good! By using a container with a lid you keep unwanted insects away.
10. Clean your mixer regularly.
Your mixer is, believe it or not, a paradise for bacteria. Each time you turn the mixer on and off with dirty hands, new bacteria settle on the mixer. In this way, bacteria are transferred to your hands even after you wash them. So keep your mixer clean. Or better yet, invest in a hybrid mixer or a non-contact mixer to avoid the problem.