USDA advises what kitchen items to toss in the trash and when
Keeping your kitchen clean is crucial to your and your family’s health.
U. S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Janice López-Muñoz said there are four tips to remember to avoid foodborne illness: “Clean, separate, cook and chill.”
Open up your fridge and take inventory, starting with any boxes of takeout food items.
“Leftovers are safe only three to four days,” said López-Muñoz. “If you forget about (them) after that it should not be safe to eat.”
Food expiration is another important factor to take into account when trying to avoid getting sick.
The “sell by” date tells you when grocery stores have to clear the items from their shelves, “best by” or “use by” advise when items will be at their top quality.
“Raw chicken, for example, will last one to two days safe in the refrigerator,” said López-Muñoz. After that she said you should ” freeze it, and then it will stay safe indefinitely.
But we’ve all had chicken that tastes a little “off,” after being being frozen too long. López-Muñoz said that’s normal.
“The quality will tend to lack a little bit with time, but it’s safe.” she said, explaining that other items, like eggs, can be stored for up to five weeks.
“You go back from the store, put them in the refrigerator , and they should be good three to five weeks.” said López-Muñoz .
Broths that have been opened for more than two to-three days, spices that have separated and damaged canned good should also be tossed in the trash, she warned.
When it comes to kitchen utensils, López-Muñoz said that nonstick pans and cutting boards, no matter what material they’re made of, should be thrown away because the crevices made over time can trap bacteria.
She advised that sponges have to go after just a few uses, and especially after they start to smell.
López-Muñoz said “if we are dealing with raw meat and poultry” using a paper towel is better for cleanup.
If you really want to sanitize your surfaces, she said adding a tablespoon of unscented bleach to a gallon of water will get the job done. Otherwise “hot soapy water” will do the trick.
