Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department Provides Food Safety Tips

ZANESVILLE, OH – Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and while the holiday is all about food, family, and fun, staying safe in the kitchen is just as important.

The Zanesville- Muskingum County Health Department shared some helpful tips to keep your Thanksgiving feast safe and your family healthy. ZMCHD says food shouldn’t sit out for more than 4 hours after being cooked. Any longer, and harmful bacteria could start to grow. Once dinner is done, it’s important to make sure to store everything in shallow containers and refrigerate promptly.

“You want to keep leftover food in shallow containers, that way the temperature is not hot in the middle. You want to get it back in the refrigerator and you want to make sure your refrigerator is set at 41 degrees or below, that way the food gets to 41 as quick as possible,” ZMCHD Environmental Health Specialist in training Dalton Kirkbride said.

Most cooked dishes and turkey will stay good for up to 7 days in the fridge. When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach 165 degrees to ensure they’re safe to eat. It’s also important to prevent cross contamination from raw turkey.

“If you’re working with raw turkey, make sure you’re using different cutting boards. You want to make sure the turkey is on one cutting board and the vegetables and anything else ready to eat is on a different cutting board. That way you’re not potentially mixing raw with ready-to-eat foods,” Kirkbride said.

For more food safety tips, visit the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department’s website.

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