Final answer:
To keep food safe when preparing chicken salads, use a separate cutting board for chicken. Cooked leftovers should not be at room temperature for over two hours, and chicken should be marinated and stored in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing chicken salads, it is important to follow guidelines to keep food safe. A key guideline is to use a separate cutting board for chicken. This prevents cross-contamination between chicken and other foods. Raw chicken should be handled with care, and any surfaces, utensils, or cutting boards in contact with it should be thoroughly cleaned. Avoid washing chicken after preparation, as this can spread bacteria through splashing water. Always marinate chicken in the refrigerator, never at room temperature, to prevent bacterial growth. Additionally, chicken salads should be stored at temperatures below 40 degrees F (4 degrees C), not at room temperature, to ensure they remain safe to eat. As a general rule, cooked leftovers should not be stored at room temperature for more than two hours, as harmful bacteria can grow to unsafe levels. These leftovers, if heated well, will not necessarily be safe to eat even if you heat them thoroughly. Additionally, surfaces that come into contact with food should be kept clean, and foods should reach an internal temperature of at least 74 degrees C (165 degrees F) when cooked to ensure they are safe to consume.