Maytag Kitchen tip of the week.

Protecting Your Family from Food-borne Illnesses

Bacteria that cause foodborne illness thrive at temperatures of 40 -140° F. There are three general rules to follow to help keep your food safe:

• Keep Foods Clean - Handle foods with clean hands. Keep the refrigerator interior clean to prevent contamination.

• Keep Foods Hot - Once food is cooked, it must be kept hot (above 140° F) until serving. Bacterial growth increases greatly when cooked foods remain at room temperature for longer than two hours. Avoid cooling leftovers on the counter before refrigerating.

• Keep Foods Cold - Refrigerator and freezer temperatures do not kill bacteria but, will slow its growth. The colder food is kept, the slower the bacteria grows.