Online Host: Welcome! We are here tonight to talk facts about food safety. Oprah's two shows about "Dangerous Foods" really have the country talking and we want to clear up and questions you all may have tonight. We are joined this evening by Connie Diekman, a nutritional consultant with the American Dietetic Association, who wants people to enjoy food!
Online Host: Send in your questions now about whatever food handling, preparation or storage questions you have by using the INTERACT icon! Wonder about thawing meat, fish and poultry? When meat is risky and should be tossed out? What about mold on breads, cheeses and such? We hope to address all these basics tonight. Send your questions NOW! Welcome Connie Diekman!
Question: How long can you keep chicken in the refrigerator before it goes bad?
Connie Diekman: Fresh chicken will only keep for one to two days and then it needs to be cooked. Once it is cooked, it will keep, in the ballpark of 3-5 days.
Question: How long can you store meat that is thawing in the refrigerator?
Connie Diekman: When thawing in the refrigerator - if the meat has ice crystals in it, then it is still usable and safe. But if it's been thawing for more than two days, it is just like raw meat then, and needs to be cooked. Once meat is thawed, it is now fresh again, lots of bacteria is there - so COOK IT!
Question: I have heard that it is not safe to use tin foil on food that gives off moisture because it picks up unsafe materials from the foil. Is that true?
Connie Diekman: As a rule, the aluminum will undergo some changes and therefore, it is a better idea to use a plastic wrap or to keep the aluminum from touching the product or food. If you wrap with foil - put food in a bowl or on a plate and cover the bowl/plate with the foil. This way the aluminum is protecting, but not touching, the food.
Question: Can butter be safely left out?
Connie Diekman: Butter is a dairy product and needs to be in the refrigerator. It is best used within one to two weeks (from the fridge). If you don't use it that quickly - put it in the freezer. I repeat, butter NEEDS to be refrigerated.
Question: Is it true that well done beef causes cancer?
Connie Diekman: The issue with cooking meat is that if it is not cooked enough - you don't kill bacteria. If you cook it at too high of a temp and really burn it, you do change the meat and it may be a causer of cancer. Your safest bet: Use lean meat, keep it far from the flame - do not put it right on top of the flame or really close to the broiler - and cook until it is no longer red, and the juices run clear. Do not singe it. This will keep you safe.
Question: In your opinion. is it clearly better to be a vegetarian?
Connie Diekman: The choice is yours. You can eat healthy either way. The key is knowing how to make both healthy. A vegetarian needs a wide variety of foods just like a meat eater. What it comes down to is learning what you need in your diet and choose what you enjoy.
Question: Where can I get my beef tested? We purchased a side of beef this year and I suspect e-coli. Everytime I handle the hamburger, I get severe stomach cramps etc.
Connie Diekman: Contact your local health department to find out where you can go for testing.
Question: Do you really have to keep eggs refrigerated???
Connie Diekman: Once again, eggs are an animal product. They have bacteria in them. At room temp, this bacteria grows. If you eat it - you have a greater chance of a foodborne illness occurring. Bottom line - refrigerate fresh or hard boiled eggs.
Question: Do hot dogs and bologna contain dangerous food borne diseases and does microwaving kill e-coli?
Connie Diekman: Anything that comes from an animal has that potential because of the bacteria that is in present in all animal foods. Processed foods have been cooked so some of that bacteria may have been killed, but do still treat it like some bacteria is there (treat it like a fresh meat product). Keep in the refrigerator and heat well before eating. If your microwave is set at the proper temp - it can kill bacteria. I would recommend two things: Check the microwave book (if you still have it) and do the water test to check the heating abilities. If the book doesn't tell you exactly: Heat some water in a measuring cup to above 160 F. If it takes more that 2-3 minutes, then you need to adjust your cooking to kill that bacteria. Maybe your miscrowave has lower wattage or power, so cook things a little longer in other words.
Question: Is it safe to refreeze meat?
Connie Diekman: If you thawed it in the fridge for less than a day and it still has ice crystals - yes. If any of those elements are missing (i.e. out of the refrigerator, for more than one day, no ice crystlas) - then, no. Cook it and then you can re-freeze. Cooking and refreezing is safe.
Question: Can my child get sick if their sandwiches are not frozen?
Connie Diekman: If a bag lunch has animal foods in it - cheese, turkey, meat, etc. - and has been out of the fridge for more than two hours - you are at risk for food borne illness. Try freezing the sandwich the night before or including an ice pack to keep the lunch at lower than 40 degrees until it is eaten.
Question: What is the best way to keep lettuce & cold meat fresh?
Connie Diekman: With cold meat, wrap it in small portions in good sealing bags. Keep using it quickly so there is less chance of bacteria growing. With produce, the biggest thing is to buy good quality. No bruises, weepy leaves. Look for freshness. Keep it cool as best you can from the grocery store to home, and then store it with enough air that it doesn't get too moist, but not so much that it wilts. You can do that with special veggie bags or containers or by punching holes in the bag you brought it home in. Buy what you will use and replenish rather than buying a lot and keeping it around and loosing quality.
Question: If you have purchased food from a grocer that exceeds it's expiration date by months, other than returning it, what can you do to see to it that is doesn't happen to someone else?
Connie Diekman: Do return the product. Be a good consumer and let them the store know when you are happy AND unhappy. Tell the store manager that they have let you down and you will shop somewhere else if it doesn't change. Changes only come from our demanding quality.
Question: What to do if the meat is green and blue?
Connie Diekman: More than likely - you don't want to take a chance - WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!
Question: Are you a vegetarian?
Connie Diekman: I enjoy a wide variety of foods. My proteins come from beans and pastas to fish and meats. One of the best things about eating is taking adwantage of variety and choices! Keep things in balance in terms of fat and calories and you can enjoy just about anything.
Question: How long is ground turkey meat good once it has been thawed?
Connie Diekman: Ground turkey - when thawed in the fridge - you once again are looking at the 1 to 2 days in the fridge before it needs to be cooked. Ground meats are where we get into bigger trouble with bacteria - so go for maximum safety to prevent any problems.
Question: What about the Lunchables we send with our children to school that stay unrefrigerated for up to several hours until our children eat them? (The little cracker/cheese/meat snacks.)
Connie Diekman: I had the same question. I looked at them to make myself comfortable and it appears that the processing and vacuum seal allows them to stay out of refrigerator longer. There is no warning on the package to refrigerate. I tend to be very conservative and so personally I would feel more comfortable keeping them cool - but it appears that you don't need to.
Question: How long after the expiration date is an unopened container of yogurt good for?
Connie Diekman: With dairy, the date is the SELL BY date. The store should take those products off the shelves on that date. You can use then use it for maybe up to a week. Your best bet is to buy things WAY ahead of their sell date. This was you get your money's worth.
Question: What is the best way to clean mushrooms?
Connie Diekman: Mushrooms are very high in water so don't clean them until you are ready to use. Use a veggie brush to get the dirt off - with a LITTLE bit of water. If you use too much water, it's not really a quality issue, you change the taste of them.
Question: I have a recipe for making ice cream in an electric ice cream maker - the recipe calls for cooking the cream and eggs over low heat for 5 minutes, cool and then freeze. Safe?
Connie Diekman: I'm happy that at least the recipe tells you to cook the eggs! Cooking the egg is how you get rid of the bacteria. Get a thermometer and be sure that is has gone past the 140 Fahrenheit mark - maybe even into 150. Let it cool, freeze it and you're fine. Old ice cream recipes called for raw eggs and need to be adjusted.
Question: Accidentally leaving milk out over night - can it still be used?
Connie Diekman: Unfortunately - you are looking at a risk and it is really not worth it. Bacteria has had the chance to grow over night, so you are better off throwing it out.
Question: How do you know when a meat or poultry product which is frozen is no longer good to use?
Connie Diekman: First thing - when you are freezing - date your packages. There is a limit. Beef and pork may last a year, but things like fish cannot. If you have not dated it - you must have a great memory to remember when you out those things in there! If you are not sure, look at the food. If it has lots of ice on it, or if any of the meat looks drier than other parts or is brown or gray, it's probably been in there too long. Your better plan is to mark things and rotate your foods to avoid waste.
Question: Do fruits and vegetables have to be refrigerated?
Connie Diekman: Most of your fruits and veggies will maintain their nutrition and quality if kept at cool temps. Safety with some is not that big of an issue when out of the fridge, but many of fruits and veggies are so susceptible to bacteria in the air, that they spoil more quickly when they are left out. Quality, safety and nutrition are a better guarantee when you keep them in the refrigerator.
Question: Is it okay to cut mold off cheese eat the remainder?
Connie Diekman: With moldy cheese - you need to be sure you have cut the mold completely. Cut a lot of extra out around it. It may not be visible, but mold has finger-like-tentacles that can grow into the cheese, so the mold may be in more than the section that appears moldy. For that reason, vut out an extra 1/4 inch or so around the moldy spot. But remember, the mold is supposed to be on that Bleu Cheese!
Question: The prepared salad mixes in sealed containers say they are pre-washed and ready to eat - is it necessary to re-wash the greens?
Connie Diekman: Packaged salads are ready to be served. Safe. A little tip: If you toss the leaves in ice water, it may bring the limp ones back to life!
Question: Do you put leftovers in the fridge when they are still warm or when they have cooled ?
Connie Diekman: Leftovers need to go in as soon as you are finished using them and definitely within two hours of having been cooked. Because they are hot - put them in small containers so the food will cool more quickly and prevent bacteria from growing.
Question: My son often leaves out burgers and fries to snack on later. How long and how safe for food to sit out at room temperature?
Connie Diekman: Anything that comes from an animal should not be at room temp for more than 2 hours. In the summer - that time gets shorter. Bacteria likes room temps and it likes animal products. Please be careful. The fries are not really a problem - they might just taste bad!
Question: In comparison, is chicken & turkey safer than beef these days?
Connie Diekman: Any kind of animal protein can be very safe if you do some simple things. 1. Buy it fresh. Check dates. 2. Keep it cool. Get it home as quick as you can and get it in the fridge. 3. Cook it properly. Proper temperatures. Clean hands and utensils etc. 4. If you have leftovers, store them properly. Most foodborne illness is because of something done incorrectly in the preparation or storage.
Question: Can apple juice be at room temperature for any length of time and still be safe?
Connie Diekman: Once apple juice is opened - it should go in the fridge. It can be in the pantry for months prior to your opening it. It is safer than animal products and will keep for a long time then in your fridge. You could go a week or 10 days without this being a problem. Remember, once opened, do refrigetate in order to avoid the bacteria from growing.
Connie Diekman: Eat healthy and enjoy ! Hopefully food safety will never be an issue for any of you because you will do it correctly! Goodnight!
Online Host: Thanks so much for joining us this evening! We hope everyone has learned those easy extra steps and precautions to take to be sure that the food you and your family eat is safe. We thank Connie Diekman so much for her time here tonight and for helping to put our minds - and stomachs - at ease! Thanks! Goodnight from Harpo Studios!
