Consuming
Thoughts
by
Fay Strickler
Penn State Extension Home
Economist For Berks Co.
Many of us arc already thinking
about the holidays. We want to get
the house ready for friends and
family members who will be visit
ing. One area of concern to the
cook will be the kitchen.
Will it pass Aunt Mabel’s white
glove inspection?
More importantly, could it pass
a food safety inspection?
If not, these guidelines will get
your kitchen in tip-top shape for
the holidays.
Start with the freezer. Is it froz
en-over or jam-packed with
54' x 14' x 90' Deluxe Machine Storage Facility
Raised Chord Him System 7'6" On-Center
• 124 x 15’6 AlumaStcel' Sliding Double End Door
* 122 6\ 14 AlumaSicd' Sliding DouWc Sidcdoor
• M \ 6 8 91009 Luc KYNAR 500' Insulated Walkdoor
* 2 4 \ i 9 Lite Insulated Sliding Windows with Screens
and Shutters
• X Skylights
* 2 U Cupolas (no lans)
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• I xtcrmr Hi Rib Sled Wamscoi with Interior
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• Rcuiiuiionary FLUOROFLEX 2000' Root Paml System
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Print Swem
• Ml kar Snow load Warranly No Weight Limit
• N) Year Warranty on Laminated Columns and Trealed Lumber
* 20 Year Paint Warranty Including Red Rust
* 10 Year Wind Warranty on Doors. No Velocity Limn
* 5 Year Wind Warranly on Building No Velocity Limn
* 5 Year Warranly Against Root Leakage
• Heavy-Gauge Aluminum Gutters and Downspouts
• Free Morion Weather Vane
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foods? If so, it will not hold frozen
meat and poultry at safe freezer
temperatures 0 degrees F or be
low. When you defrost the freezer,
examine frozen items carefully
and discard foods that have
changed in appearance or texture.
When returning food to the freezer
check package dates and sort
items so that you can use them
within recommended storage
times.
Next, the refrigerator. If you
have leftover meat and poultry
dishes, use them as soon as possi-
MORTON
www. mortonbuildings.coim
O © 199* Morton Buildings, Inc
ble. These foods can be stored in
the refrigerator from three to four
days. Fresh meat and poultry
should be used within one to three
days. Also check the “scll-by” or
“usc-by” date on mayonnaise, sal
ad dressing and other foods which
need refrigeration. Throw away
outdated, moldy and obviously
spoiled foods.
To get rid of the odor that may
linger from spoiled foods, wash
the refrigerator with baking soda
and water and put a box of baking
soda in it to absorb odors. To store
food safely in the freshly cleaned
refrigerator be sure that the
temperature is set at 40 degrees F
or below to prevent most bacterial
growth. Tightly cover all foods
and use them within the recom
mended storage time. Don’t over
load the refrigerator. Cold air must
be able to circulate to keep foods
at optimal temperatures.
Countertops, sinks, and utensils
need extra care. To keep bacteria
from spreading from raw to
cooked foods, wash the counter
top, sink and utensils after they
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48' iiIS'ii 75'Machine Storage Facility
Riised Chord Truss System 7'B" On Center
• i 24 x 14 6 Wood Sliding Double End Door
• M x 6 8” 9100 KYNAR 400’ Insulated Walkdoor
(no glass)
• 4 Skylights
• Protective Polyester Rool and Sidewall Paint System
• Premium KYNAR 4007IIYLAR 5000 Trim Paint System
• 40 Yc.ir Siam load Warranty No Wcighl I mill
• 41) Year Warraniy on Laminated Columns and
Trcalcd I umher
• 4 Year Wind Warraniy No Velocity Limit
• 4 Year Warraniy Agamsl Root Leakage
• Heavy Gauge Aluminum Cullers and Downspouts
• Free Morion Weather Vane
800-447-7436
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 31, 1998-B7
have been used to prepare raw
meat and poultry. Carefully scrub,
clean and sanitize plastic cutting
board. Old wooden cutting boards
should be used as hot pads and not
for food because bacteria
can harbor in the grooves left by
the knife. A hard, non-potous cut
ting board is better for preventing
the spread of bacteria. Also, wash
kitchen linen often and throw
away old sponges.
Kitchen appliances should
work properly. Use the oven ther
mometer to check the temperature
in your conventional oven. Use a
meat thermometer to cook meat
and poultry to the proper internal
temperatures. Poultry is thorough
ly cooked at 180 F to 185 F; beef
and other meats should reach 160
got mi
y / —-j| CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR,
mNLjI EASTER MONDAY,ASCENSION DAY,
WHIT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING,
mimm CHRISTMAS & December 2sth
FISHER’S FURNITURE, INC.
NEW AND USED FURNITURE
USED COAL & WOOD HEATERS
COUNTRY FURNITURE & ANTIQUES
BUS. HRS. BOX 57
MON.-THURS. 8-5 1129 GEORGETOWN RD.
FRI, 8-8, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503
ED
WV Contractors License
IWV 007841
F. For questions about meat and
poultry call the USDA Meat and
Poultry Hotline: 1-800-535-4555.
Check the microwave oven too.
Stale food particles left in the mi
crowave can interfere with cook
ing time. To clean the microwave
oven, place a mixture of lemon
juice and water inside the oven
and turn it on. The steam will con
dense on the oven surface and
make food much easier to remove.
The lemon juice will absorb odors.
“Alternative Household Clean
ing Solutions” is available from
our office, just send a self-ad
dressed, stamped envelope to
Saks County Cooperative Exten
sion, Berks County Ag Center,
1238 County Welfare Rd., Lees
poit, PA 19533-0520.
h?
Now
Available
Cookbook
of the
Lancaster
County
Farm Women
Society #22
of Wonderful
ied and True,
f 3 For s ls°°
tstage per Book
<r Money Order
to
I A. Witmer
ieorge St.
i, PA 17551