Food safety basics

A beginners guide on how to cook safely in the kitchen

Moving to uni is an exciting journey, and you're going to learn many new things. For some people, you might be learning to cook for the very first time, and some might want to expand their knowledge of cooking.

This quick and easy guide takes you through the simple steps of cooking safely in the kitchen and helps prevent risks such as food poisoning.

1. Cleanliness

It may seem like common knowledge to keep things clean and hygienic, but it's always good to double-check. Always:

• Wash your hands: Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food ensures there is no cross-contamination between foods, especially when handling raw meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.
• Clean surfaces and utensils: Make sure you regularly clean surfaces with antibacterial spray/wipes and chopping boards and utensils with hot, soapy water. Keep this in mind when preparing raw and cooked foods at the same time.
• Wash fruit and vegetables: Even if you plan to peel them, washing them under running water helps remove excess dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residues.

2. Cooking food thoroughly

Always cook your food properly to kill any harmful bacteria:

• Check your meat: Make sure that meat, poultry, and fish are cooked all the way through. The meat should reach 75°C in the thickest part to be thoroughly cooked and safe to consume. The clearest signs that your meat is cooked are that it should be steaming hot with no visible pink meat, and the juices should run clear.
• Reheating leftovers: Leftovers should be reheated until they're steaming hot all the way through. Remember to never reheat food more than once, as it increases the risk of foodborne illnesses.

3. Storing food correctly

Speaking of leftovers...you have to make sure you're storing food correctly and keeping it at the right temperature to help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria:

• Check your fridge: Make sure your fridge is set to 5°C or lower and always store raw meat, fish and poultry on the bottom shelf to separate them from ready-to-eat foods.
• Cool leftovers: Cool your leftovers quickly and store them in the fridge or freezer within two hours. Remember to use an airtight container to keep them fresh and safe.

4. Check use-by dates

Take a look at the food packaging to see the use-by dates:

• Follow the use-by dates: They are there for a reason and indicate the date by which the food should be eaten safely. Never eat food after its use-by date, even if it looks and smells okay.
• Best-before dates: Understanding the difference between use-by and best-before is key to learning about food safety. Whilst use-by dates indicate when the food should be used by, best-before refers to the quality of the food rather than the safety. Foods may still be safe to eat after their best-before date, but they might not be great taste- and texture-wise.

5. Dispose of food correctly

Use the designated food waste bin in your kitchen for any peelings, scraps, leftovers, tea bags and coffee grounds. Just make sure not to contaminate it with any packaging! 

6. Cross-contamination

Cross-contamination occurs when bacteria are transferred from one food or surface to another. Here's how you can prevent this:

• Store food safely: As we previously said, store food safely by keeping raw foods, especially meat, fish, and poultry, separate from ready-to-eat foods in your fridge.
• Use separate equipment: Use different chopping boards, plates and utensils for raw and cooked foods to avoid spreading any bacteria. You can buy different coloured chopping boards from supermarkets and online shops such as Amazon. If you're using one knife, either chop your raw meat last or make sure you thoroughly wash it with hot soapy water before chopping your vegetables.

Let's talk allergens...

If you have a food allergy or intolerance, or if you're cooking for someone else who does, it's essential to be cautious when cooking:

• Read labels carefully: Always check food labels for allergen information - ask them just to be safe, as they're more likely to know what they can and can't have.
• Avoid cross-contact: Keep allergenic foods separate and clean all utensils, surfaces and hands thoroughly after handling them to avoid cross-contact.

Understanding these basic food safety rules can ensure the food you are cooking is safe to consume, and you can enjoy your university experience without any unpleasant disruptions.