Having a get together especially a BBQ with friends and family is always great.  It's fun to connect, have fun and eat some good food.  The things that make life great.  However, it's always great to make sure we keep that BBQ safe.

Here are some great tips from the City of Amarillo to help make your BBQ safe and sound when dealing with food for your party:

  • Start with clean hands, a clean grill and clean utensils.
  • Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water. Hand washing is the most important thing a person can do to prevent illness.
  • Keep food refrigerated until ready for use.
  • Avoid the “Danger Zone.” Bacteria can grow rapidly between 41 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Do not leave food unrefrigerated for more than two hours (one hour if the air temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Keep leftovers in a refrigerator or cooler with ice or ice packs to keep food cold.
  • Avoid cross-contamination. Cross-contamination can occur when a cutting board or plate that held raw food comes into contact with foods that are ready to eat. For example, do not cut vegetables for your hamburger on the same surface that was used to cut or season chicken.
  • Always marinate foods in a refrigerator using a glass or plastic food-safe container.
  • Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the meat you are cooking to ensure it is cooked thoroughly. Undercooked meat can be dangerous because it has not reached a high enough temperature to kill any bacteria that may be present.
  • As a general rule for cookouts, cook all meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Never leave your grill unattended.

These are great tips for any get together not just our backyard BBQs.   Here's to fun with family and friends this summer!

 

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