Food Safety During the Summer

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As the temperature rises we know it is definitely summer time! It is no surprise that we see an increase in foodborne illnesses from June - September.  One of the best tools to help prevent illness is a food thermometer and refrigerator/freezer thermometer.  Both food and refrigerator thermometers are relatively low cost ($10 or less), and can be found at your local grocery/hardware store.

A food thermometer monitors the temperature of food to ensure it is “done” and cooked to the proper temperature.  This makes it safe to eat.
Pros
  • Prevent food from being undercooked and thus prevent foodborne illness
  • Avoid food from being overcooked, which negatively changes the flavor and texture of food
  • Allows cooks to hold food at a safe temperature
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • Needs to be calibrated, some more often than others
  • Not always oven proof
  • Time to read the correct temperature can vary
A refrigerator thermometer is a smart investment to prevent food waste.  When the refrigerator is 41°F or less, food in the refrigerator is less likely to spoil.  When the refrigerator is 41°F or less, most bacteria that cause foodborne illness do not survive well at these cold temperatures, keeping our milk, eggs, and produce safe to eat.  When temperatures do not stay below 41°F, some simple changes are needed:
  • There is too much food to properly cool down to 41°F or less
  • The refrigerator and/or freezer needs to be fixed
A freezer thermometer can also prevent food waste.  When the freezer is at 0°F or less, food in the freezer is less likely to defrost and spoil, similar to the refrigerator temperatures.   
Pros
  • When a power outage occurs, check the refrigerator and freezer thermometer to see if the temperature is above 41°F . Throw out any food that has been above 41°F for more than 2 hours as it could be unsafe to eat.
  • Thermometers make chilling and cooking foods easy
Cons
  • Thermometer may be hard to see in the refrigerator/freezer
  • Thermometer temperatures may not get checked daily
To find out more information about summer food safety, check our past blogs on these topics.
Past Blogs on Summer Food Safety








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