Fourth of July food safety tips

July 3, 7:38 PMUS Headlines ExaminerCharisse Van Horn

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Food safety during grilling and smoking meats is important for preventing foodborne illness

With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, the USDA has issued several food safety tips to ensure that your festivities aren’t hampered by sickness due to improper food handling. Since many families will be grilling this Fourth of July weekend, it’s important to know more than how to grill a great burger; food safety tips are imperative for keeping family and friends healthy and happy.

Cooking meats, fish, and poultry during warm summer months increases the prevalence of foodborne illness. As the temperature rises, so does the rate that bacteria multiply. Preparing, handling, and cooking food must be performed cautiously to make certain your food is safe for consuming.

To ensure that foods are grilled or smoked thoroughly and to recommended temperatures, use an oven thermometer. You can use the thermometer while the meat or poultry smokes, making certain that the food is cooked to the required temperature. Keep in mind that the thickness of the meat you are grilling will have a direct impact on the cooking time. Generally, it is recommended to cook beef, lamb, roasts, veal, and chops to 145’ F. All cuts of pork should be cooked, grilled, roasted, or smoked to 160’ F. If you are cooking ground beef, veal, or lamb also cook these to 160’ F. Poultry should be cooked to 165’ F.

Smoking and grilling are two separate cooking methods. When smoking meats, fish, or poultry the food is not in direct contact with the flame, but rather receives indirect heat. This process takes longer to complete. Smoking food includes the use of a water or drip pan that releases steam that smokes the meat. To ensure that foods are smoked properly, it is recommended to use two types of thermometers. The first thermometer is for use on the food, the second is for the smoker. Many smokers come with thermometers built in. The smoker’s temperature should remain a consistent 225-300’ F. This temperature ensures that all harmful bacteria are thoroughly destroyed.

If you are smoking food on a charcoal smoker, make certain to only use approved fire igniters or starters and never use other materials, such as paint thinner, gasoline, or other flammable materials. Smokers should be placed in areas where they receive plenty of ventilation and are not in close proximity to trees, plants, shrubs or other materials that might become fire hazards.

Those grilling will need to ensure that meat is cut thinly to cook thoroughly. When grilling, meat is placed directly over the fire; meat that is tender is preferred. For best results, keep the lid to the grill open. You should only close the lid if you are using the grill as a smoker. Make sure that meat and poultry are completely thawed before smoking or grilling. This helps ensure that food cooks thoroughly and evenly. Though many might feel that defrosting food at room temperature is the quickest method, this can allow bacteria to multiply at a rapid rate. Defrost or thaw meat in the refrigerator for best results. If you are short on time and need to defrost meat or poultry quickly you can use your microwave’s defrost setting, however, smoke or grill the meat immediately afterwards. It is common for meat to begin to cook in the microwave during defrosting; cooking immediately afterwards prevents the meat from becoming tough or overcooked. If you are marinating meat, do so in the refrigerator, not on a counter. One of the most important steps you can take to prevent cross contamination is to use a clean plate or serving tray when transferring food from the grill or smoker. Never use the same plate that the raw meat was placed on unless it has been thoroughly washed first. Finally, when saving leftovers, immediately wrap and store leftovers and refrigerate them properly. If food has been left out for two hours or longer, discard it.

More Information

USDA FSIS: Barbecue and Food Safety

USDA FSIS: Smoking Meats and Poultry

 7 Food Safety Tips for the Fourth of July

4th of July Cooking Safety Tips