(NC)—Sure, it tastes great and earns rave reviews from everyone sitting at the dinner table. But is your favourite recipe also a safe one? To prevent serving up foodborne illness at the dinner table, follow this helpful checklist when preparing a meal:

Marinating

I am marinating in a covered container in the refrigerator. Uncooked meat, poultry or fish in a marinade is perishable.

I am marinating meat for less than 24 hours.

I have disposed of leftover marinade to avoid cross-contaminating other foods.

Cooking Meat

I avoid cooking meat at low oven temperatures. Slow cooking at temperatures under 325°F (163°C) can create a bacteria-friendly environment.

I cook meat thoroughly. Co Is Your Recipe Safe? Recipe

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Seasoning An Oven

by Glea Reno and Dennis Reno

Untreated cast iron rusts, especially around water.  To prevent metal from oxidizing in the presence of moisture, cast iron requires a process called ?seasoning?.  Seasoning is simply the procedure of baking oil into the oven's pores, and on  top of the iron pores. This baked on coating will darken and eventually turn black with age.  Darkening is the sign of a well kept oven, and of it's use.  This coating forms a barrier between moisture in the air and the surface of the metal.  It also provides a non-stick coating on the inside of the oven that  is easy to clean.

Here are some tips when it comes time to season your oven.

Scrub lid and oven in hot water with a mild soap to take off the coating the manufacture puts on the oven b Seasoning An Oven Recipe

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Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases

by Richard Massey

Types of Bacteria

Bacteria are all around us, in the air, water, ground, on our skin and in our bodies. They are classified in a variety of ways, but for our purpose we can categorize them in a more basic way.

Harmless bacteria – Most bacteria fall into this category. They are neither help us nor are harmful to us. These bacteria have a specific purpose, but are not a concerning to us in terms of food safety,

Beneficial bacteria – Believe it or not some bacteria are helpful to us. Some bacteria are used in foods to make cheeses and yogurts. And still others live in our bodies to fight of harmful bacteria.

Undesirable bacteria – Undesirable bacteria is responsible for food spoilage. This type of bacteria may not make you sick, but they Bacteria and Food-borne Diseases Recipe

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