���� SAFETY
NUTRITION
DOROTHY RICHMOND Dietitian
Christmas is the time of year for feasting and relaxation . Over the coming weeks we will indulge in many culinary delights . In order that our holiday does not become a gastronomic disaster , awareness of safe eating practices , at home and whilst eating out , becomes important .
AL FRESCO So , while relaxing by the pool with friends , remember that our tropical environment is an ideal breeding ground for food poisoning bacteria . If you are serving platters of food al fresco , remember to keep them covered for fly control . Display small platefuls at a time so that food is not sitting in the temperature danger zone for long and can be replenished from the fridge in your kitchen .
If cooking a barbecue , remember to serve the meat straight away , particularly if your guests like it rare . Ensure that chicken and seafood is adequately cooked .
DINNER PARTIES To ensure it is adequately cooked , cut the legs of the turkey and cook them on the side of the roasting tray . They can be attached later to carve . Cook the stuffing on the side of the roasting tray rather than inside the bird
Keep egg-based sauces such a mayonnaise , and dishes that contain mayonnaise such as coleslaw , cool at all times . Keep rice , pasta or noodle dishes either very hot or very cold , never in between . And remember to never refreeze defrosted ice cream
CHRISTMAS STOCKING Most people stock up with food over Christmas . As tempting as it it , try not to overfill the fridge . To be a safe form of storage , fridges need to keep food below five degrees centigrade . If you must stock up , it is better to stock up with frozen food and defrost as necessary in the fridge or the microwave .
Vacuum packed food is good standby and undergoes rigorous quality testing before it leaves the factory . If you are going on long shopping trips , keep an esky in the boot of the car for frozen and other perishable foods . And remember to watch out for damaged packaging , in particular dented cans .
BEST BUFFETS Restaurants are required to follow food safety measures , so don ’ t be worried if you see a chef probe the food on a buffet with a thermometer . This is part of measures being adopted by restaurants to assess hazards and ensure food safety . Signs of safe restaurant service of food includes mall quantities of food replenished regularly from the main kitchen , supervised buffet tables , enough fresh plates for each trip to the buffet , and cold food that is very cold and hot food that is piping hot .
Cairns City Smithfield Manunda Edmonton Mareeba Port Douglas Mossman Innisfail
Available for expert food and dietetic advice at a location near you . GP Referrals and personal referrals for you and your family ’ s needs .
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