Food safety tips for Memorial Day cookouts

Are you firing up the grill this holiday weekend?

Here are some tips to avoid foodborne illnesses when having a cookout.
First, of course, wash your hands when handling raw meat.
Clean cutting boards or surfaces that come into contact with raw meat.
When grilling, make sure juices from the meat do not drip onto other items.
And be sure to not to let food sit out on a hot day.
What about the leftovers?

The best tip for storage is to put leftovers in glass or ceramic air tight container.

If you do that, they can be good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Plastic storage is not recommended especially for fattier foods like sausage, especially if it’s greasier and hot off the grill because it can react with those plastics.

It’s also important to remember to cook meat to a safe temperature, but don’t overcook it.

Charring can produce cancer causing chemicals.