Senior Care Covington TN

July is National Grilling Month, and even though the Fourth of July is over, there is plenty of time for you to enjoy “celebrating” this month by planning a cookout with your senior loved one. While your first thoughts when it comes to grilling out are likely about enjoying your meal picnic style with friends and family members, it is important that you also keep in mind the health and safety of the food that you serve.

Use these tips to help keep food healthy and safe during National Grilling Month:

• Buy in advance. Do not plan to purchase any meat products you will be cooking immediately before the cookout. The time that is spent in the grocery store and driving home, as well as the time sitting out waiting to be put on the grill, counts against the “safety zone” of two hours in moderate weather and one hour for very hot water. Instead, plan to purchase meat products the day before the event. Choose these items last when shopping and consider storing them in a cooler on the way home. Do not put them in the trunk or leave them in the car while running other errands. Immediately put them in the refrigerator upon getting home to start it cooling and suppress bacteria growth.

• Get the grill going. Do not pull the meat, pork, or poultry out of the refrigerator until the grill is already going rather than taking it out and letting it sit while you get the grill going. Give it only a few minutes to warm up before putting it on the already hot grill. This will prevent the growth of bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness.

• Do not reuse marinade. Marinating meat is a fantastic way to tenderize the product as well as add extra flavor. Products such as chicken breast, steaks, pork chops, or other meats can sit in the marinade for hours or even a few days leading up to the cookout. While these marinades are full of flavor, you should not reuse them as a glaze or sauce after cooking. The marinade may contain bacteria from the raw product, which could then be transmitted to the cooked food and cause illness in anyone who eats it.

• Limit time out. Avoid turning the cookout into a “grazing” meal where people nibble and eat what they want intermittently with activities and socializing. This could result in the food sitting out for far too long. Instead, limit the amount of time that the food is sitting out to one hour.

If you are concerned about your senior parent’s health and safety as they enjoy their favorite summertime foods this year, senior care may be the best choice for them. A senior home care services provider can create a customized course of care and assistance designed to address your parent’s specific needs so that they can ensure your loved one can enjoy the quality of life that they desire, while staying safe and healthy. This includes following through with food safety practices to keep the food that they enjoy safe whether they are eating it in their home or out during a cookout.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/barbecue-and-food-safety/CT_Index

For in-home Senior Care Services in Covington TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!