Barbecue Food Safety

Barbecue and Food Safety

When the temperatures drop in UAE, outings and barbecues grow in popularity. There's something appealing about cooking your meal out on the open coals, lapping up the sunshine and enjoying a social gathering with family or friends. Although barbecues are enjoyable, they do pose food safety risks.

Food Safety Issues

Don't forget that food safety issues are crucial when you're barbecuing. Raw meat and fish can contain food poisoning bugs and if raw meat is near to, or drips onto, cooked or ready to eat foods, the bugs can be transferred. Take care and use the following tips to ensure what you cook and eat will be fine for all the family.

• Always wash your hands after handing raw meat.
• Use separate utensils for cooked and raw meat.
• Don't put cooked food on a plate or surface that's been used for raw meat.
• Don't put raw meat next to cooked or partially cooked meat on the barbecue.
• Keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods.
• If a marinade or sauce has been used with raw meat, don't then add it to cooked food.
• Ensure frozen food is thoroughly thawed before you cook it.
• Don't start cooking until the charcoal is red hot, with a grey powdery surface.
• Cook food evenly, by turning it regularly and moving it around on the barbecue.
• Make sure the centre of food is piping hot and cooked right through.
• Don't make the mistake of assuming food must be cooked right through if it's charred on the outside, as this isn't always the case.