March 2010
3 posts
USDA: What should I do to keep refrigerated and...
KEEP THE FREEZER DOOR CLOSED. Keep what cold air you have inside. Don’t open the door any more than necessary. You’ll be relieved to know that a full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures about 2 days; a half-full freezer about 1 day. If your freezer is not full, group packages so they form an “igloo” to protect each other. Place them to one side or on a tray so that...
USDA: Should a large pot of soup sit on the range...
USDA: Should a large pot of soup sit on the range until it cools, or should it be refrigerated hot?
Hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or it can be rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.
A large pot of food like soup or stew should be divided into small portions...
USDA: Is it safe to eat leftover food that was...
USDA: Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning? Will additional cooking kill the bacteria that may have grown?
No. Bacteria exist everywhere in nature. They are in the soil, air, water, and the foods we eat. When they have nutrients (food), moisture, and favorable temperatures, they grow rapidly, increasing in numbers to...