Here are some hints and tips for staying safe when cooking outdoors this summer
- If you are using frozen meat e.g. burgers or sausages make sure these are de-frosted through before cooking
- Have two sets of BBQ tools – do not use the same tongs or utensils for raw meat and cooked meat
- Have separate plates for raw food and cooked food
- Turn meat regularly, to ensure it gets cooked all the way through and not just charred on the outside
- Cut meat at the thickest part to check it is cooked properly – not pink in the middle and the juices should run clear
- Keep food like salads, mayonnaise, yogurt and dips cool, covered and out of the sun until you are ready to eat them
- Remember that unlike steak, beef burgers should not be served rare or pink. This is because when the meat is minced to produce burgers any harmful bacteria from the surface of the raw meat will spread throughout the burger. So the meat must be cooked right through to kill any bacteria.
Further information can be found at:
https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/barbecues