Cooking up a Storm – Why Food Hygiene at Christmas is Vital

Christmas is just a matter of days away, and we cannot wait to be tucking into our Christmas Dinner. For many of us here at imperative, our Christmas Dinner is the highlight of our Christmas day. Sitting around the table surrounded by family eating a homemade roast, what could be better? 

Although, before you even think about sitting around the table, first, you must consider the preparation required and food hygiene in the same way you should for any other time that food is concerned.

Let’s Talk Turkey

We all look forward to a turkey dinner, the main event of Christmas Day. If you are preparing your festive feast at home, these food hygiene tips will ensure the turkey has been purchased, prepared, cooked and served safely.

1. Always check the dates and ensure that you pack and store raw, ready-to-eat food separately to avoid cross-contamination.
2. Allow enough time for your turkey to fully defrost in the fridge, this could take up to 4 days.
3. Don’t wash raw turkey as it splashes the germs and spreads them onto your hands, clothes, worktops and utensils.
4. Make sure your turkey is cooked properly by checking that the meat is steaming hot throughout, there is no pink meat visible when you cut into the thickest part and that the meat juices run clear.
5. You are able to use previously cooked turkey (even if it was frozen) to make a new meal which can be frozen too but only reheated once.

When preparing food, for the safety of yourself and others that you are catering for, it is essential to wash your hands, remove jewellery and ensure your hair is securely tied back.

Feast your eyes

The expression ‘your eyes are bigger than your belly’ can be very much true when it comes to Christmas, with endless amounts of food and treats around us it is easy to get carried away.

The average person is thought to consume about 6,000 calories on Christmas day, which is three times the daily recommendation for a woman! Although the festive season can be a time for over-indulging, it is important to enjoy yourself over the Christmas period so be sure you do not overeat or drink to the point that you feel sick.

Many people do not want to risk not having enough food on the big day which means they are often left with a lot of excess, encouraging them to overeat. To avoid this, ensure you cook the right amount.

Admittedly, there is no exact amount for Christmas food as it’s entirely your own preferences, but preparing for the Christmas shop and purchasing loose items rather than bagged items could help you on your way.

Simmer down

With the excitement that the festivities bring, it is easy to get carried away and forget about food safety practices. However, this is when accidents can occur, so it is important to be mindful of health and safety.

Always be careful when cooking and be mindful of the heat for yourself and others around you, especially small children to avoid incidents such as burns from occurring.

Gobble up

Lastly, the main thing is for you to also enjoy your Christmas dinner!

What are your plans this year? Will you be hosting or perhaps someone else is cooking for you, let us know by tweeting us @imptraining, we would love to hear your plans.