LET’S HAVE A PICNIC
When a warm summer afte
rnoon makes everyone "think picn
ic," you could find yourself orga
nizing one.
Never fear; find the picnic ham
per and the cooler. Then read
through the following warm
weather food care hints before you
head to the store.
Buy perishable products last at
the supermarket and take them
home right away and refrigerate
them immediately. Never leave
perishables in a hot car while you
run other errands.
Perishable products can be kept
in your refrigerator for one to two
days. For longer storage, freeze
food. Make sure your freezer
registers O degrees F.
Contrary to common practice, it
is not safe to thaw meat and poultry
on the kitchen counter. Bacteria
can multiply dangerously in the
outer layers before inner areas are
thawed.
Cook everything thoroughly. If
you like your steak rare, just
By Doris Thomas
Lancaster Extension
Home Economist
remember that there is a chance
that some food poisoning organ
isms can survive such short cook
ing times.
If there's no water available, use
disposable, wet Handiwipes to
clean your hands before working
with food.
Keep bacteria on raw meat and
poultry from spreading. Wash
your hands again after working
with raw meat or poultry and
before handling other food.
Take up cooked meat and poul
try with clean utensils onto a fresh
plate for serving. Don’t reuse uten
sils, plates, or bowls you used with
the raw product
For a relaxed, worry-free picnic,
keep your perishable food in a
cooler.
While all mayonnaise-based
salads should be kept on ice, the
mayonnaise you buy at the store is
not a food poisoning villain. Its
high acid content actually slows
bacterial growth. But home-made
mayonnaise, if made without
lemon juice or vinegar, can be
Lycoming
MONTOURSVILLE (Lycom
ing Co.) Two sisters head dairy
promotional activities for Lycom
ing County. Dairy Princess Shan
non Peterman and her sister Rhon
da were crowned on June IS at the
pageant held at Faith United
Methodist church, Moutoursvillc.
The sisters live with their
parents Mr. and Mrs. Kendall
Peterman on the Hugesville farm,
Peterman’s Pride Dairy Farm.
Three dairy maids were chosen
to assist the dairy princesses; Jen
nifer Cline, Linden; Krista Schon,
Loyalsock Township: and Yvonne
Peterman, Hughesville.
risky.
The cooler should be well
insulated and packed with ice, or
you can use a freeze-pack insert.
Cold drinks in cans help keep other
food cool too.
When possible, place the cooler
in the shade. Keep the lid on.
Put perishable foods back in the
cooler as soon as you finish eating.
Do not leave them out while you
go for a swim or hike.
When possible, place the chest
in the passenger area of the car for
the trip home. It's much cooler than
the trunk!
If you were gone no more than 4
or 5 hours, and your perishables
were on ice except when cooked
and served, you should be able to
save any leftovers. Remember,
when in doubt throw it out!
Crowns Dairy Princess
■* r/ )
**
Shannon Peterman is the new Lycoming Co. dairy
princess.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 6, 1991-B3
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