This summer is particularly hot, what can complicate itThe preparation of pre-prepared foodtion organizing our meals for the return to routine after the holidays.
Hot days not only make us sweat, but also increase the risk of food poisoning.
hot days not only make us sweat, but also increase the risk of food poisoning when we don’t handle our food stored in airtight containers properly. To make this task easier when the temperatures become more bearable again, The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) shared a bunch of helpful tips. ESAN also takes this into account Summer is a critical time for storing food.
The Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN) warns that high temperatures damage our stored foods, such as leftovers or pre-prepared meals to save time during the week. more susceptible to the proliferation of unwanted microorganisms. One of the practices he points to is the popular one “batch cooking”, what though it allows us to have meals ready for several days, If not, it can be dangerous at this time of year adequately guarded. Can it be allowed to cool to room temperature before refrigerating? This favors the proliferation of microorganisms.
Given these concernsthe OCU offers some recommendations. First, it suggests Cover the food immediately to avoid the presence of disease-carrying insects. Although it is commonly believed that one should or should not cover The cooling of hot food does not actually pose a risk, quite the opposite.
Once foods such as legumes or stews are cooked, transferring them to smaller airtight containers is ideal
Once foods like legumes or stews are cooked, that’s ideal Transfer them to smaller airtight containers so they cool down faster. You don’t have to wait for them to cool completely before storing them. it is enough that they do not boil. A trick to speed up the cooling process is to place the containers in ice water. The OCU emphasizes that on hot days, it is important to minimize the time food spends at room temperature.
AESAN also offers some additional advice. He recommends storing food below 5°C and heating it above 60°C to prevent bacterial growth. The temperature in the refrigerator should be below 4 °C. In the summer, high ambient temperatures are not friendly to leftovers. By following these simple guidelines, you can plan your meals for the week as we look forward to fall and cooler temperatures. Getting back to routine in this heat is hard enough Therefore, it is better not to make the situation worse.
