7 Kitchen Mistakes that Cause Food Poisoning

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

Although it’s better than defrosting meat, fish, or poultry out on the counter, many people place raw meat on the top shelf.

That’s actually a huge mistake because any drips are able to contaminate the food below.

To prevent food poisoning, you need to always defrost your protein-rich foods in the package, container, or on a plate, on the fridge’s bottom shelf.

4. Not Washing Food before Cutting

The skin of melons, as well as other fruits that grow in the ground, often contain dangerous pathogens, including the deadly Listeria, which was recently found lurking on cantaloupes.

In case you happen to cut these fruits open without washing them, the knife can easily transfer the pathogens into the fruits.

To prevent food poisoning, you should spray your fruits with pathogen-killing vinegar and wait thirty seconds before cutting. Also, you should absolutely avoid purchasing any precut fruits and vegetables.

5. Cleaning the Cutting Board Incorrectly

You can’t get rid of the germs found on raw meat and poultry, or even the veggies that have been associated with salmonella outbreaks, only by hand-washing your board!

You should know that even soap and very hot water can’t help you kill off these harmful germs.

So, to protect yourself from food poisoning, you should sanitize your cutting boards by cleaning them in the dishwasher or pouring boiling water over them.

6. Reusing Grilling Tongs

You probably know that using the same plate for raw and cooked meat or poultry is a very bad idea. However, you could still contaminate your food by using the same grilling tongs or spatulas.

In order to avoid food poisoning, here’s what you need to do after placing raw foods on the grill: First, place the tips of meat tongs on the grill and close the cover while keeping the tongs’ handles on the outside, then, let the heat of the grill kill all bacteria, and so, you can safely use them again.