Store raw meat in sealed containers on lower refrigerator shelves to prevent dripping onto other foods.
Handwashing is particularly important before preparing food and after handling raw ingredients.
Food safety is not determined only by the quality of the ingredients purchased.
It also depends on everything that happens to those ingredients before they are eaten.
- Should You Eat Raw or Cooked Vegetables?
Raw vegetables offer convenience, texture, and valuable nutrients.
Cooking, however, can make certain vegetables easier to digest and reduce microbial hazards.
Neither approach is universally superior.
The safest choice depends on the food, its preparation requirements, and the person consuming it.
Fresh lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots can commonly be enjoyed raw when they have been handled appropriately.
Other plant foods, such as dried kidney beans, require thorough cooking.
For leafy greens, cooking can reduce harmful microorganisms that may be present.
However, cooking cannot reliably make severely spoiled produce safe or remove every naturally occurring toxin.
