Summer is the season to be outside, whether you are headed to a cookout, packing for a picnic, or planning a day at the pool. Food safety may not be one of your top priorities. However, making sure food is safe for you and your family to eat will help to prevent illness, so that everyone can enjoy all that summer has to offer. Keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and refrigerating leftovers immediately are the basic rules for keeping food safe.

While cooking and eating outside, food can easily reach room temperature and stay there for a long time. Harmful bacteria, or germs, grow quickly in foods that are left at room temperature. Any food sitting out in temperatures between 40° F and 140°F (commonly called the “Danger Zone”) is at high risk for bacteria growth. Foods that sit at this temperature for over two hours should be thrown away. Coolers with ice should be available to store leftovers if you are not immediately returning home after eating.
Washing hands before and after making and eating food is extremely important. If there is no running water, make sure to have hand sanitizer available. Washing all fruits and vegetables before cutting and eating is also important to avoid eating pesticides and bacteria. Keep food covered before, after, and in between eating to protect from bugs.
Prevent cross-contamination of foods by packing raw meat and produce separately and using separate utensils and dishes before and after cooking meats. Meat needs to reach certain temperatures on the inside to make sure that it has been cooked all the way through and that all harmful bacteria has been killed. Buying an inexpensive meat thermometer at the grocery store and checking the temperature of your meats while cooking is an easy way to be sure meats are safe to eat. Meats should reach the following temperatures in the middle:

• Chicken (whole & pieces)180°F
• Ground Beef –         160°F
• Ground Poultry –     165°F
• Steak & Lamb –    160°F
• Pork –             160°F

Summertime Marinade
Marinating is a great way to tenderize and enhance the flavor of any meat or seafood, as well as keep it moist while cooking. This marinade is simple, and perfect for any kind of meat or seafood. You can brush it on vegetables and fruit while grilling too!

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tsps ground black pepper
• 1 ½ TB garlic powder
• ¼ cup finely-chopped green
• onions
• Hot sauce to taste
• 1 TB chopped fresh thyme
• (optional)

In a medium bowl, stir together the vinegar, orange juice, pineapple juice, olive oil, pepper, garlic powder, green onion, hot sauce, and thyme. Place meat or seafood in a shallow glass dish or bowl, pierce with a fork on top a few times, and pour ½ of the marinade over it. Turn over and repeat. Place in refrigerator or cooler and marinate for up to three hours.
If you have other nutrition questions, call the Peoria County Extension Office at 685-3140.