Introduction You’ve probably heard the phrase, “cleanliness is next to godliness,” but how often do you actually practise it? If you want your kitchen to be a space where all kinds of magic can happen–whether that be baking cakes or creating inspired dishes in a commercial kitchen–it’s important to keep things clean. What’s more, a clean kitchen helps mitigate the risks of cross-contamination and other potential kitchen hazards. So, this article is going to offer some ways we keep our kitchens clean and tidy: Keep your sink and counters clean Keep your sink clean and don’t let the dirty dishes ..read more

Introduction Meats are a great source of protein, but they can also be dangerous if not handled properly. Raw meats need to be cooked before you eat them; otherwise, they can contain harmful bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella. These bacteria cause food poisoning which may lead to serious illness or even death in some cases. To prevent food poisoning from raw meats: Use separate cutting boards and utensils for cutting raw meat When you’re preparing raw meat, use one cutting board for the meat and another one for everything else. The same goes for your utensils—use a separate fork or spoon to s ..read more

Introduction As a homeowner, you may be tempted to take shortcuts or skip certain safety steps when storing or preparing food to save time—but that’s dangerous and irresponsible! It’s easy to get yourself into trouble if you don’t follow some basic rules while cooking or handling food at home: Wash hands often When you wash your hands, use warm water and soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Wash your hands before and after handling food. Also, wash them after using the bathroom, changing nappies, handling pets or rubbish or recycling materials that could have touched raw meat or eggs. Glove ..read more

Food is central to the festive season, and for many of us, there’s really nothing better than to relax with a delicious meal in the company of those we love. We’ve mentioned the risks associated with improper food handling and safety techniques on our blog before; while these are issues Aussies face all year round, they’re a particular concern during the holiday season. Let’s look at how you can be food safe as we celebrate Christmas. The Christmas challenge Most families choose to celebrate with one another in the days between Christmas and New Year, where we see gatherings of multi-generatio ..read more

One of the most important events on the calendar for anyone that handles food, either at work or at home, national food safety week is an opportunity for experts in food safety to emphasise the importance of basic hygiene practices in the fight against food poisoning. Despite decades of activity by the Australian government to raise awareness of food safety issues, a recent study from the Australian National University, commissioned by FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) found that there are around 4.67 million cases of gastroenteritis caused by bacteria in food each year. These usual ..read more

Whether you’ve cooked too much for the night or have just finished meal prepping for the week ahead, leftovers are an excellent way to get the most out of your food. However, if you aren’t storing your leftovers properly you could be putting yourself and others at risk of food poisoning. So, if you use leftovers, it’s important to learn the proper way to store them and enjoy your favourite meals without worrying about getting sick. In this article, we’re going to learn about the risks of leftovers and how to mitigate these risks with proper leftover storage tips. What’s the risk of storing lef ..read more

With many of us now heading back into the office 5 days a week, we’re back to organising lunches and snacks to get us through those long work days. With so many people once again utilising shared kitchen spaces in their places of work, the opportunity for cross-contamination and poor food safety practices are high. Rather than playing Russian roulette every time you prep your food in the office kitchen, become familiar with workplace food safety and ensure your always practising safe food handling. How to keep your food and employees safe in the workplace There are a variety of safe food handl ..read more

Handling food safely when dining outside is essential to keep you, your family, and your friends healthy. The picnic and barbeque season provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation with friends and family. But these warm weather events also give food-borne bacteria a chance to thrive. When taking food outside the house, food poisoning is a real risk. Long-term removal of food from its usual environments – the refrigerator, freezer, pantry, or sanitised kitchen – can increase the risk of contamination. Handling food safely while eating outdoors When eating outdoors at picnics or BBQ ..read more

The food service industry is known for being fun, creative, and collaborative – but it’s also known for being high-pressured, busy and often stressful. Working in this type of environment can be challenging. While education around the food service industry will equip you with a core set of skills and capabilities, it’s your attitude that can help to make a significant difference in how successful you are in your career. Alongside a strong understanding of the basics of food handling and food safety, the professional behaviours you bring into the kitchen are what will set you apart. So, what ar ..read more

Cooking in bulk has some key benefits. In terms of a busy lifestyle, creating multiple dishes, ready to freeze, can save time. As food costs tend to rise, it makes sense to make use of all fresh ingredients before they lose the will to survive. Buying in bulk, and then preparing and cooking in the same way, can make each finished dish cheaper than starting from scratch each time. But, bulk preparation can have its problems, as can the freezing and storage of the dishes themselves. So here is a range of quick tips to help ensure good food safety practices are followed. Four basic preparation im ..read more