The Lost Art Of Cooking: Food Safety Tips & Tech

Americans Love To Eat, But Hate To Cook

Americans spend more on eating out that buying groceries
More than 1 in 4 Americans don’t know how to cook
In 2015, restaurant sales surpassed grocery sales for the first time
In January 2019, Grocery sales: $56 billion – Restaurant sales: $61 billion

Restaurant meals are about 3X as expensive as cooking at home – Learn to cook safely and save big!

Food Safety Basics: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill

Clean

Wash your hands before and after touching food (Use warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds)
Wash your tools and countertops after each food item (Use hot water and soap)
Rinse all produce, and clean cans and jars before opening

Separate

Separate raw meat and eggs in your shopping cart, bags, and fridge
Use a dedicated cutting surface for raw meat
Wash plates and tools used for raw meat before reuse

Cook

Just because a food is “done” doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat
Always heat raw meat, eggs, and other dishes to a safe temperature
Don’t let cooked foods sit – keep them hot until you’re ready to serve

Chill

Return food to the fridge or freezer quickly – within 2 hours of cooking
Thaw frozen foods in the fridge, under cold water, or in the microwave
Refrigerate raw meats while marinating – Never reuse marinades (Unless boiled after each use)

Temperature Matters

How To Check Food Temperature

Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached a safe temperature
Check food in several places to ensure it’s cooked evenly
Calibrate your thermometer in ice water, adjusting the reading to 32℉
Keeping foods at the right temperature ensures they’re safe to eat

Minimum Safe Temperature

Cooking:

Steaks, roasts, and chops (beef, pork, lamb, and veal): 145 °F
Ground meat (beef, pork, lamb, and veal) and eggs: 160 °F
Poultry, casseroles, and leftovers: 165 °F

Keep Warm:

Keep cooked foods hot until served, at least 140℉
An Instant Pot or Slow Cooker takes the guesswork out of cooking – And keeps dishes hot (and safe) until you’re ready to serve

Storage:

In refrigerator: 32 – 40℉
Freezer: Below 0℉

Learning to cook can be daunting, but new tech makes it easier than ever!

Start Cooking Today

Taylor Digital Measuring Cup:

Combined digital scale and measuring cup – Holds up to 4 cups, or 6.6 lbs
Easily convert weight and volume measurements for better accuracy

Drop Food Scale:

WiFi-connected, compatible with iOS, Android, Alexa, and Google Home
Syncs with recipe app to adjust measurements and find substitutions

Hiku Fridge Magnet:

Scans barcodes or recognizes your voice to build grocery list
Syncs with mobile app and online shopping cart

Days Ago Tracker:

Attach the tracker to open jar or container of leftovers with suction cup
Digital tracker records how many days have passed

Range Dial Grill Pro:

Thermometer wirelessly connects to your phone to monitor cooking temp
Alerts you when safe temp is reached using preset for type of meat

There’s An App For That

Project Foodie:

Recipes and video tutorials from celebrity chef Daniel Holzman
Easily adjust serving sizes and creates an instant grocery list
See what tools you need and get recommendations on what to buy

SideChef:

Plan your weekly meals and organize your favorite recipes
Create a shopping list and order delivery from within the app
Learn from how-to videos, audio guides, and illustrated tutorials

Chef Tap:

Curate your favorite recipes from any website, blog, or family cookbook
Access anywhere from desktop, tablet, or phone – Online or offline
Build grocery list and adjust serving size in the app

Substitutions:

Database of ingredient substitutions to customize any recipe
Personalize to fit your diet with vegan, gluten-free, and other filters
Don’t have the right tools? Find alternatives and tricks

Cooking Times:

Combination calculator and timer helps you get it right every time
Select the type of dish, cooking temp, and size or quantity
Use recommended timer or edit and create your own

Sources