Final answer:
Keeping food safe at home involves five key principles: Cleaning hands and surfaces regularly, separating raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination, cooking foods to the correct internal temperature, chilling perishables promptly, and using safe water and raw materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Keeping food safe at home involves adhering to five key principles, which are crucial in preventing foodborne diseases. These principles are:Clean: Regular handwashing is critical before and after handling food, as well as before eating. This helps to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses that can cause foodborne illness.Separate: Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from other foods in your grocery shopping, refrigerator, and while preparing meals.Cook: Cook foods to the right temperature to kill harmful bacteria. Using a food thermometer can ensure that food has reached the necessary internal temperature, which is at least 74 degrees C (165 degrees.
F)Chill: Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within two hours (or one hour if the temperature outside is above 32 degrees C/90 degrees F) to slow the growth of bacteria.Use safe water and raw materials: Ensure that the water used in food preparation is potable and that raw materials, including fresh produce, are clean and safe to consume.These practices help to prevent food from becoming contaminated, which commonly occurs through improper handling, preparation, or storage. Following good food safety practices at home can greatly reduce the risk of foodborne diseases.