|
One of the
main activities of the summer is barbecuing and there's
nothing better than sitting out in the sun with a cold
drink and some delicious hot food!
Barbecue food
usually consists mainly of meat and often in large
quantities. It is also often prepared by people who do
not regularly cook such food and so are not always aware
of the amount of time needed to ensure the meat is
cooked safely.
|
 Advertisement
Greenfingers Gas Barbecue. £299. Free
Delivery. This could be just what you are
looking for if you like to eat outdoors in
the evening but don't want to wait for a
charcoal barbecue to light. A beautifully
designed, top of the range model in
stainless steel with hardwood trolley.
Powered from a gas cylinder (not included)
it has a cast iron cooking area of 65 x
49cm, a piezo ignition system, heat
indicators and a drip tray for easy
cleaning. Some basic assembly required.
Size: 128x62x106cm high. |
Following
this advice should ensure that the food served is safe
to eat.
Meat:
-
Defrost
all meats thoroughly
-
Keep meat
in the fridge until needed
-
Keep
cooked and uncooked meat completely separate
-
Cut the
meat into small portions before cooking
-
Pre-cook
chicken to ensure the middle gets cooked properly
-
Use
separate utensils for cooked and raw food
-
Make sure
that the meat is cooked through by testing a piece
or by using a meat thermometer (see
Amazon advert below)
-
Keep the
heat low to prevent burning the outside before the
inside is cooked
-
Serve
meat immediately after cooking
Salads:
-
Keep
ingredients covered and refrigerated until needed
-
Minimise
the use of "high risk" ingredients such as home-made
mayonnaise, ham, shell-fish and eggs
Hygiene:
-
Have a
bowl of warm, soapy water handy for washing hands
between cooking
-
Keep all
utensils on a clean tray or table away from the food
-
Make sure
the cook wears an apron and uses clean towels
Advertisment
Your own
personal safety is another important consideration when
barbecuing. You should take the following sensible
precautions:
-
Set the
barbecue up on a level surface away from plants,
fences or flammable materials
-
Never
pour petrol or lighter fuel on to the barbecue
-
Use
kindling and fire lighters if necessary
-
Keep a
bucket of water handy incase of fires
-
Avoid
wearing loose clothing which may catch in the flames
-
Make sure
the fire is out when you have finished the barbecue
-
Use a
plant sprayer to douse flames from dripping fat
-
Use long
handled tools and thick oven gloves
|
