Tips to have a clean and healthy kitchen

Posted by Theresa Moore on November 22nd, 2018

Maintaining a healthy diet is essential, not only to feel good, but also for your children to grow up healthy and strong by ingesting all the nutrients they need. But when we talk about healthy eating, we also refer to a particular point that we often do not take into account: hygiene in the kitchen. For your family to enjoy a healthy and quality diet it is essential to cook responsibly. Hygiene in the kitchen is not simply keeping the space where you cook clean, but be careful in the way you wash, handle and cook food . Today we give you some tips for a responsible kitchen. So you can be calm at the time of cooking for your kids.

Why is it important to maintain hygiene in the kitchen?

Be careful when preserving and preparing food is essential to maintain their nutritional quality and avoid possible health risks for your family . Sometimes, small oversights when handling food can cause diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites, such as the famous (and feared) gastroenteritis and salmonellosis. During the hottest months is when there is more food danger, since the risk of developing microorganisms is higher. It is time to maximize hygiene in the kitchen and to be very careful when handling food. Without a doubt, it is the best thing you can do to prevent foodborne diseases.

1. A clean and shiny kitchen

Before you start cooking, make sure you have the kitchen clean and shiny. Stains and splashes of food, grease and oil, and other debris that can be deposited on countertops, drainage of laundry and walls can become pockets of infection. Try to keep your kitchen clean regularly to avoid risks.

2. A clean and orderly pantry

The pantry should be at a height, away from the ground, and in a cool and ventilated place, preferably away from the oven. To properly store food you must store it at about 17 degrees, tightly closed (if they are open, place loops or clips to close them) and away from sources of heat and humidity. Check the food labels to corroborate their conservation recommendations and make sure they are not expired.

3. Garbage can with lid

It seems obvious, but it is not. The garbage can must be located away from food and preferably have a lid to prevent the multiplication of germs and their transfer to food. Use best garbage disposal for your kithcen.

4. Personal hygiene

Before starting to cook, remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry with a clean cloth . When cooking with children , teach them to wash their hands before and during the process, as well as to be extremely careful when handling food.

5. Wash food well

It is extremely important to properly wash food, especially those that you think serve raw . Lettuce, spinach, chard and other vegetables are the most complex at the time of washing as their hygiene must be done leaf by leaf. Take your time to carry it out because, if you do not clean every nook and cranny, you can ingest bacteria that cause gastrointestinal diseases. Always dedicate time and attention to the washing of vegetables and fruits. It is the only way to make sure they are clean before eating them!

6. Properly cooking food

Microorganisms have difficulty growing at temperatures above 55ºC or below 5ºC, so: do not hesitate and cook your food well. Especially when you cook large pieces of fish, red meat, poultry and eggs, make sure they reach that temperature also inside. Take special care when cooking in microwaves, as cooking can be done unevenly, cooking the outside of food excessively, without completely heating the interior.

7. Store food in the fridge

Even those cooked should be stored in the refrigerator. Many times we make the mistake of leaving the cooked food out of the fridge. Keep in mind that, especially in hot weather, pathogens multiply very quickly at room temperature and in just over 2 hours can spoil the food. Of course, an excess of time inside the refrigerator (approximately more than 3 days) can also be dangerous when it comes to eating food.