Food Safety & Freshness

Instructions Step 1: Look for “jets” Look for pineapples with labels or tags that identify them as “jets” or “jet fresh” if you don’t live in the Hawaiian tropics. Pineapples don’t get any riper than when they’re harvested, and are subject to bruises and rot during transit. The freshest pineapples are flown by jet to …

Instructions Step 1: Check the FDA website Check for a list of recalled eggs on the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, website, at fda.gov. Step 2: Do not eat recalled eggs Throw away eggs that have been recalled, and thing about curbing your egg consumption temporarily. Be aware that they may still be in …

Instructions Step 1: Wash your hands Wash your hands well with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, after using the toilet or changing a diaper, or picking up after your dog. TIP: Be wary of touching reptiles, amphibians, and birds. If you do touch, wash hands immediately or …

Instructions Step 1: Drink liquids and get rest Drink plenty of liquids and get rest if you experience symptoms of salmonella poisoning. These include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. TIP: Be cautious about taking anti-diarrhea medication. It can reduce cramping, but may prolong the diarrhea. Step 2: Understand the usual course Know that the …

Instructions Step 1: Understand the usual course Be aware that symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually go away by themselves in four to seven days. But the illness can be more serious in infants, older persons, and persons with chronic illnesses. Step 2: Make a doctor’s appointment Make an appointment with your doctor if your symptoms …

Instructions Step 1: Wash your hands Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom, handling raw meat or poultry, touching reptiles or birds, or cleaning pet feces. Washing your hands can help prevent spreading salmonella to your mouth or cross-contaminating food you are cooking. Step 2: Wash produce Wash produce before eating. Salmonella can infect …

Instructions Step 1: Observe the physical signs Look for abdominal cramps, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea, as these are the main physical indicators of the salmonella bacteria. These symptoms generally diminish without medical intervention in four to seven days. TIP: Babies, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk of contracting …

Transcript Woman: Crisper not living up to its name? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Use newspaper to line the drawer and wrap vegetables. The paper will keep them fresh by absorbing moisture. Perfect!

Instructions Step 1: Go to a reputable fish market Go to a reputable fish market. If you live near the ocean, this is easy enough. If you don’t, you may have to ask around, search for online reviews, or rely on your instincts. Step 2: Check the eyes Look at the fish’s eyes if you …

Instructions : Consult a medical professional or poison control if you think you may have ingested inedible fruit. Step 1: Use your eyes Examine wild berries closely. Pay careful attention to the fruit’s size and color, and note as many other physical characteristics as possible, including its arrangement on the bush or vine, the color …

Transcript Man: Short shelf life? Woman: Quick tips! Man: Add a pinch of table salt to milk to keep it fresher longer. Delicious!

Instructions Step 1: Observe the papaya’s color Look at the color of the papaya. Papayas are picked when they are still green and hard to minimize potential bruising during shipping. Buy a papaya when it is half green and half yellow. It will further ripen at home at room temperature and will be ready to …

Instructions Step 1: Wash hands Wash your hands for 20 seconds before preparing food, after handling raw foods, after you use the bathroom, and before you eat. Step 2: Wash Wash and scrub your vegetables before eating. Step 3: Use different cutting boards Use two different cutting boards: one for vegetables and one for meat. …

Instructions Step 1: Fill bowl Do the float test: put the egg in a deep bowl of water. If it sinks straight to the bottom, it’s fresh. If it floats, it means it’s old, but may still be safe to eat. Proceed to the crack test. Step 2: Put egg in bowl Crack a floater …

Transcript Female: Just need a bit of onion? Male: Quick tips! Female: Leave the skin intact on the rest, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate. It will last up to a week. Nifty!

Instructions Step 1: Inspect the beef Inspect the raw piece of beef. Beef that has spoiled will have a change of color and will have faded or darkened. Fresh meat is purplish in color and will change to a cherry red color when exposed to oxygen. Grey, green, or brown coloring may indicate spoiled beef. …

Transcript Woman: Sick of throwing out spoiled cottage cheese? Man: Quick Tips! Woman: Store it upside down in the back of the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week longer. Easy!

Instructions Step 1: Check the color Look at the avocado’s color. Avocados that aren’t yet ripe are pale to dark green. Ripe avocados are dark green to greenish-brown, and an avocado that is dark brown to black is rotten. TIP: Avocados reach peak ripeness just before they begin to rot. If the avocado has only …

Transcript Man: Parmesan going bad fast? Woman: Quick Tips! Man: Re-wrap it tightly in new plastic after each use. Fresh!

Instructions Step 1: Look at the stem and cap Look at the eggplant’s stem and cap. They should be bright green. If the stem and cap are faded or browning, the eggplant is old and overripe. TIP: Smaller eggplants tend to be less bitter than larger ones. Step 2: Examine the skin Look at the …

Instructions Step 1: Check the aroma Check the fruit’s aroma. Ripe fruit has a pleasant scent. TIP: The pleasing smell of ripe fruit evolved as a cue to animals that the fruit is ready to eat. Step 2: Taste the fruit Taste similar fruit for sweetness. Many fruit vendors will gladly provide samples to customers. …

Instructions Step 1: Check the expiration date Check the expiration date on the product to determine its shelf-life. Step 2: Avoid sticky and slimy meat Avoid meat and poultry that is slimy, tacky to the touch, or that emits a bad odor. TIP: Fading or darkening meat can also indicate spoilage. Step 3: Smell fish …

Transcript Female: Tired of throwing out crusty, old, cheese butts? Male: Quick tips! Female: Rub cut surfaces with vegetable oil before wrapping tightly in wax paper and then plastic wrap. Yummy!

Transcript Man: Brown sugar a brick? Woman: Quick tips! Man: Store it in the freezer inside a freezer bag. Let it reach room temperature before using. Sweet!

Transcript Man: Over-ripe berries a perennial problem? Woman: Quick tips! Man: Store them unwashed and with their caps still on in an uncovered colander in the fridge. This lets cold air circulate around them preventing mold. Neat-o!

Instructions Step 1: Check the dates before purchasing Check the dates on food products before purchasing them, and check them again before cooking. One spoiled item can harbor millions of harmful bacteria. Step 2: Store food properly Separate meat, fruit and vegetables for storage, and discard any food that looks or smells questionable. Always store …

Instructions Step 1: Know the dangers Keep food out of “the danger zone” – between 40 and 140 degrees. Freezing stops bacteria from growing but does not kill it. As soon as frozen food reaches 40 degrees, harmful bacteria can multiply. TIP: Defrosting in the refrigerator is the safest method because it keeps food below …

Instructions Step 1: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions Follow the manufacturer’s instruction manual for operating procedures and safety precautions for your oven model. TIP: Never operate the oven if the door does not close properly, or if the door, latch, hinge, or sealing surfaces have been damaged. Step 2: Use the microwave oven appropriately Use the …

Instructions Step 1: Soak the greens briefly in enough cold water to cover them for five minutes. Drain and rinse them. This will hydrate and clean the leaves. TIP: Check greens carefully before you buy. You’ll get the best results if you start with fresh greens. Step 2: Spin the greens as dry as possible …

Instructions Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Step 2: Rub an ice cube or drizzle some water over the crust of the bread until it’s damp. Step 3: Wrap it in aluminum foil. Step 4: Put it in the oven for about 10 minutes. TIP: To use your microwave, sprinkle the crust of …

Instructions Step 1: Prepare your testing bowl Fill a large bowl with cold water and set it on an even surface. Step 2: Drop your eggs in the bowl Gently place the eggs in the water and wait a few seconds to see if they sink or float. Step 3: Remove the eggs that float …

Instructions Step 1: Don’t be intimidated Don’t let expiration dates intimidate you. They are often suggestions that have more to do with quality than safety. Step 2: Decipher the labels Decipher the labels: Foods marked “sell by” remain good for several days past that date. “Use by” indicates the date the item will begin to …

Instructions Step 1: Keep cookies crisp Keep the treats in your cookie jar from getting stale by putting a piece of bread – preferably white bread – inside the jar; the cookies will draw moisture from the bread, keeping them soft. Replace the bread when it gets hard. TIP: Stick a slice of bread inside …

Instructions Step 1: Label foods Label foods before freezing so you will always know how old they are. Write the contents and date on a piece of masking tape with a permanent marker. Step 2: Know what not to freeze Don’t freeze lettuce, soft cheeses, puddings, sour cream, yogurt, or anything with mayonnaise. They’re perfectly …