Food Safety Rules For Chicken
There are several things to learn about handling chicken in a safe manner. As a perishable meat, it should always be handled carefully. This will lower the chances that you and your loved ones will suffer from an accidental bacterial infection. When you are out shopping for the day, make sure the grocery store is always your last stop. You do not want to leave it and other similar items in a hot car.
Your meat should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Do not leave it on the counter at room temperature. Keep your chicken in the coldest portion of your refrigerator and be sure to use it within two days. If you will not use it that quickly, put it in the freezer, where it will keep for up to a year.
Use the refrigerator to thaw your frozen meat. A whole four pound bird will thaw in about 24 hours this way. One that is cut into pieces will thaw in three to nine hours in the fridge. You can also thaw it by soaking it in cold water. Do not take the meat out of the original packaging, or if you do, put it in a plastic bag that will not let water inside. It will take about two hours to thaw a whole bird this way. You can also thaw your meat in the microwave. The amount of time will vary depending on your microwave and how many pounds of meat you are doing.
Remember to wash everything that came into contact with raw chicken: your hands, knives, cutting boards, utensils, and countertops. Use hot soapy water or a mild bleach solution to prevent cross-contamination.
Always cook your chicken until it is well done. The internal temperature should reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit for a whole bird; 170 degrees Fahrenheit for bone-in parts and 160 degrees Fahrenheit for boneless pieces. Use a proper meat thermometer to measure this temperature. Visually, check for clear juices, not pink when you poke the meat with a fork. If you see pink juices, keep cooking until they run clear.
When grilling it, keep it refrigerated until the moment you want to put it on the grill. Once it is done, use a clean platter to bring the meat in. Unless you have washed the platter you used to bring the meat out to the grill on in hot soapy water, do not use the same one.
Always follow these steps no matter if you are cooking pieces or a whole bird. For moist boneless chicken breast, you can still follow all these safety rules. Your meat will not only be delicious, it will be safe for your family to eat.
Once your chicken is cooked, do not leave the cooked meat out for longer than two hours at room temperature. It will remain fresh for two days in the fridge. A whole bird can last up to three days. Leftovers should be reheated using a lid to keep the moisture inside. If you heat up gravy, be sure to boil it before serving.
Looking for some easy chicken recipes how about our mushroom chicken recipe quick and easy and all so good tasting.
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