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Holiday Food Safety Tips

The holiday season is a time for social gatherings and sharing meals together! If you’re like me, you enjoy hosting events at your home. I host an annual Thanksgiving dinner for my friends, and it’s always one of the highlights of my year! 

An important part of holiday gatherings is ensuring everyone stays healthy. No one wants foodborne illness to spoil the holiday festivities! It’s important to consider food safety guidelines when cooking and serving food. Below are a few safety steps you can take to make your holidays food-safe:

1. Proper Handwashing: Wash your hands often! This is one of the easiest ways to keep food safe. A great rule of thumb is to wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. 
2. Clean and Sanitize Your Kitchen: This is key to prevent bacteria from spreading. Remove any food particles from your cooking area using hot, soapy water. Then, sanitize the area with a bleach solution or kitchen disinfectant. 
3. Thaw Safely: Did you know if you thaw your food the wrong way it can cause bacteria growth? It’s recommended to thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. In a hurry? Thaw food under cold running water or defrost in the microwave. Just be sure to cook it immediately! 
4. Control Food Temperatures: Know what the final internal temperature should be for meats. Keep a food thermometer handy and insert it into the thickest part of the meat to ensure it reaches the proper internal temperature before serving. Keep this chart with safe minimum internal temperatures for a variety of foods handy in your kitchen. 
5. Cool Food Quickly: Bacteria grows fastest in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F. Let your leftovers cool before storing them in the refrigerator. Never place hot food directly in the fridge.
6. Buffet Safety: Serving a variety of foods can be fun, especially during the holidays. To prevent illness, keep hot foods above 140°F and cold foods below 40°F. If perishable food is left out at room temperature, do not leave it out for more than two hours. 

Want more resources on how to make your upcoming holiday gatherings as safe as possible? We have you covered!

• MSU Extension Publication 3453, “Holiday Food Safety” 
• CDC About Four Steps to Food Safety 
• USDA Food Safety 

Happy holidays and safe feasting!

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