Food Myths Debunked!

MYTH #1: “If I microwave food, the microwaves kill the bacteria, so the food is safe.”
MYTH #2: “Of course I wash all bagged lettuce and greens because it might make me sick if I don’t.”
MYTH #3: “I don’t need to use a food thermometer. I can tell when my food is cooked by looking at it or checking the temperature with my finger.”
MYTH #4: “I can’t re-freeze foods after I have thawed them – I have to cook them or throw them away.”

Last Month was National Food Safety Education month, but this issue should be addressed each and everyday in the kitchen while you prepare foods. It’s one issue as well that I am a stickler for.
Food safety in my house is a huge deal, after I’ve gotten food poisoning once. I can all too clearly remember it and let me tell you this, I will never ever skip steps in the kitchen Ever…Ever…Again.
It was almost nine years ago, grilling up some chicken on the grill, and we were starving! My husband checks the temp of meat by poking at it, and guessing, he assured me about five times the chicken was cooked and well- it wasn’t. No, I got sick within thirty minutes of eating that and stayed very sick for hours. It was horrible!! My stomach still knots up at the thought of it honestly, and till this day nothing that he takes off that grill isn’t double checked by me with a meat thermometer.

Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve cooked something and know what it looked like done, even when the chicken is poked and the juice runs clear (which is a common way to check the doneness) I still stand there poking a meat thermometer in there. There’s no way I want my family to become sick like I had, it’s not something anyone really should be risking. Not unless you like puking your guts out and feeling like your insides are being torn up by some rabid wild animal, and that’s saying in nicely. My husband still doesn’t use a thermometer, drives me bonkers, and that’s most likely why I nag on him about letting me check it. You should see me on Thanksgiving, my guests stand around waiting for me to check everything and clear it. I’m that serious along with all the other ways to keep my family from getting sick and handling food properly, it’s just not something to take lightly.

Take a look at the four myths below and then head over to www.foodsafety.gov/ for more truths, tips and a great deal of information that can help you keep your family safe from any harmful handling of food before you eat it.  Also check out fightbac.org  a Partnership for Food Safety Education, really great site you can sign up for some weekly e-cards and more safety tips!