The keys to basic food safety are cooking it to the right temperature and storing it properly.
Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Properly storing foods preserves food quality and prevents both spoilage and food poisoning. Consult the easy-to-read charts below to learn how to cook and store your food the right way.
- Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures: Cook all food to these minimum internal temperatures as measured with a food thermometer for safety.
- Cold Food Storage Chart: Storage guidelines for home-refrigerated foods to keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat.
- Meat and Poultry Charts: Use these timetables to determine how long to cook meat & poultry products. Times are approximate.
- Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency: How to keep food safe during and after an emergency, such as a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power.
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