Many people will be firing up the grill this Memorial Day weekend.
But before you dish up your favorite cookout staples, there are some things to keep in mind to avoid foodborne illnesses.
“The most important message I would give to those cooking out this Memorial Day is to make sure you’re being smart about your food preparation. It truly comes down to timing and keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot. You also want to make sure you’re washing your hands thoroughly,” said Teresa Eury, a registered dietitian for Cleveland Clinic.
Eury stressed you want to properly wash your hands before preparing any food.
You also want to wash your hands after handling raw meat and clean surfaces it comes into contact with.
When grilling, make sure the juices from the meat aren’t dripping down onto other foods.
Before serving, use a thermometer to check that everything is prepared at the right temperature.
Eury added you want to keep an eye on how long everything is left out as well.
“If your food has been sitting out for more than two hours, it’s probably a good time to throw that food out,” Eury said. “If it’s hotter than 90 degrees outside, toss any food that’s been left out for more than one hour.”
Eury said it’s best to refrigerate food quickly after serving so you can safely enjoy any leftovers.