One out of every six Americans may develop food poisoning -- and that’s just this year. In fact, food poisoning accounts for more than 100,000 hospital visits on a yearly basis.
And that’s not all.
Food poisoning can lead to lifetime health consequences. The long-term consequences of food poisoning can include kidney failure, chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, and even death.
This is why it’s crucial to keep a healthy kitchen at all times. Plain and simple. Make it a priority.
To keep your kitchen healthy and safe, follow these six tips. Some of them might even surprise you.
1. Adhere to sponge safety guidelines.
Did you know that sponges can harbor dangerous bacteria -- even if they’ve only been used a few times? That’s a scary reality that many fail to realize.
According to Eat Right, sponge safety can be attained by following a few simple guidelines. First, clean your sponges daily. Microwave them for a minute or run them through the dishwasher cycle. They can be disinfected by soaking in a quarter to a half teaspoon of bleach per quart of warm water. After disinfecting sponges, store them in a dry place.
Replace sponges often. This is where many people go wrong. Experts say that just two or three sessions of use can fill a sponge with bacteria.
Never use sponges on meat juices, and don’t use an old sponge on countertops. This could spread bacteria.
2. Keep bleach on hand.
Though some people cite concerns of safety issues associated with bleach, bleach is a time-tested method of kitchen sanitation. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, bleach is both an effective and low-cost sanitizer.
Experts say to choose liquid as opposed to gel bleach. Choose an unscented bleach that is labeled “safe for kitchen or food contact surface sanitizing.”
And always follow directions. Don’t just clean with straight bleach. Dilute as instructed, and wash surfaces well after use.
3. Follow the four-step food preparation guidelines.
According to the Partnership for Food Safety Education, proper food preparation involves the following four steps: clean, separate, cook and chill. Following these steps can greatly improve your chance of having a healthy kitchen.
Cleaning begins by washing your hands with soap and warm water before and after you touch food or use the restroom. And obviously, this rule applies to handling pets or changing diapers. You should wash your hands for no less than 20 seconds. Further, wash any items that you use with hot, soapy water.
Next, separate your foods to avoid cross-contamination and spreading bacteria. To do this, separate meats, seafood or eggs while you’re in the store. Use separate bags at checkout. And separate them in the refrigerator itself. For example, don’t store raw chicken in the same container as raw ground beef. Don’t use the same cutting board for fruits and vegetables that you use for raw meat, seafood and poultry. And don’t reuse plates or bowls that have been used for raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs without washing them first.
Third, cook food to the proper temperature, and measure them with a food thermometer. Roasts and steaks should reach at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and poultry should be cooked to 165 degrees. Ground meat should reach at least 160 degrees. Color should not be used as an indicator of temperature.
Eggs should be cooked until they are firm and not runny -- this means “sunny side up” is not a safe option. Fish should reach 145 degrees.
Finally, chill your food promptly. The refrigerator should be set at 40 degrees or lower. Put foods in the refrigerator as quickly as possible to inhibit bacterial growth. Don’t let refrigerated items sit out at room temperature more than two hours. And this time frame drops to one hour if the temperature is higher than 90 degrees. (So remember that when you’re grilling out.)
Don’t defrost by leaving items sitting out. Any thawing foods should be refrigerated, microwaved or thawed in cold water. Further, don’t marinate foods on the counter. Put them in the refrigerator.
4. Train cats to stay off the counters. (No, really.)
This item may sound silly, but it’s on this list for a reason. If you have a young cat, your furry friend has probably jumped on the counter over and over again. Sure, this is cute to watch. But it’s dangerous when it comes to kitchen safety.
Animals have bacteria on their paws, and if you aren’t around to see that your kitty has jumped on the counter, you won’t know that he or she has made an appearance. The last thing you want is a kitty jumping on the counter just after using the litter box. That’s no different than a person touching the counter just after using the bathroom. Yuck!
So train your cat early to stay off the counter, and reinforce the rule to protect your health.
5. Clean cabinets often.
Bugs – they're something none of us want to think about. But an unclean cabinet can attract just that. Yikes!
To avoid critters, clean out your cabinets often. This means wiping up any spills, like flour. Consider vacuuming up dry food spills to help get food out of cracks and crevices.
There’s another important factor in this equation. Throw out old food on a regular basis, and keep any foods that don’t seal in a sealed container as opposed to the original box or bag -- pet food included.
6. Know where to store milk and eggs.
It’s natural to store milk in the door of the refrigerator. After all, there are neat little compartments designed just for this. Unfortunately, this very act could come with health consequences.
According to EatRight.org, it’s not a good choice to store milk in the refrigerator door. Opening and closing the door allows warmer air to penetrate the area. And if your refrigerator accidentally doesn’t close all the way, that warm air is warming your milk when you least expect it.
Further, experts say that translucent jugs of milk aren’t the best choice when it comes to keeping food safe. This is because clear containers allow light to enter, which can make milk spoil faster. The better choice is cardboard containers.
Refrain from storing eggs in the door of the fridge. Yes, this is an easy place to store them. But it’s not the safest. Instead, store eggs in the coolest area of your refrigerator. And remember never to keep eggs for more than three weeks.