Safe Handling of Beef
Selecting the Best Fresh is Best: Choose beef that is bright red in color from the fresh meat case. Vacuum packaged beef will be maroon because it has not been exposed to oxygen. Choose beef that is...
Category: Safe Handling
Food Safety for Outdoor Cookouts
Grilling vs. Smoking Grilling: Grilling is cooking food over direct heat. Its intensity is similar to broiling, so tender meats and poultry are best for grilling. A grill is a utensil made of...
Mailing Food Gifts to Military
The most important thing to remember when mailing food gifts to U.S. service members overseas is to choose foods that are not perishable, can tolerate a range of temperatures, and will not break...
Strawberry Basics
Selecting Strawberries Choose bright red, fresh and clean strawberries with a sweet scent. Choose berries with green caps still attached. Choose containers that are clean and in good condition. Make...
Safe Handling of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are both nutritious and delicious and play an important role in good health. As you enjoy fresh produce it is important to handle these products safely in order to reduce...
How to Cook Turkey
Food safety is important when cooking a turkey. Improperly cooked turkey could make your family sick. Thawing a Turkey Three ways are safe—in the refrigerator, in cold water that is changed every 30...
Fresh-Caught Fish
Maintaining Quality in the Catch Fresh-caught fish from either freshwater or saltwater must be handled properly to avoid spoilage and to maintain a delicate flavor, firm texture and a pleasing odor....
Safe Handling of Poultry
Selecting the Best Fresh poultry — chicken, turkey, duck and goose — is defined by the USDA as poultry that has never been below 26 °F. When held at temperatures ranging from 26 to 40 °F, there is...
Handling of Cheese for Safety & Quality
Cheese comes in many forms ranging from soft to hard and natural to processed. How cheese is handled for safety and best quality is dependent on the type of cheese. Natural Cheese Natural cheese can...
Mud Daubers
Description & Habits Mud daubers are wasp-like insects that construct nests from mud. They make a variety of nests ranging from elaborate structures (i.e., multiple tubes several inches long or...
Antioxidants
What Oxidation Does Have you noticed how fast an apple turns brown after it is cut? Have you ever tasted vegetable oil that has become rancid? Both of these changes are caused by cell damage due to...
Vacuum Packaging Foods at Home
Vacuum-packaging machines or vacuum sealers are available to vacuum package foods at home. This process may extend the storage time of refrigerated foods, dried foods and frozen foods, but it may...