Community Magazine July 2009

TAMUZ 5769 JULY 2009 59 stores) is your best bet to ensure this. You can’t tell if food is safe by just looking at it. Clean your food thermometer in hot, soapy water after each use. When reheating leftovers, aim for about 165°. Leftover gravies and sauces should be brought to a boil before being served. Crock Pots and Hot Plates Slow cookers are part of the Shabbat tradi- tion for many families. Ensure your slow- cooker maintains a temperature between 170 and 280 degrees, and the hot plate should retain a temperature of 140 degrees. Your crock pot will take some time to reach a safe temperature, so refrigerate all ingre- dients until you’re ready to prepare, and use unthawed meat and poultry. Stay Cool With the warm weather upon us, it is especially important to see to it that picnic food is kept at a safe temperature. Prepare cooked foods the night before so that they can be chilled for transport. Pack food from the fridge immediately before leaving home, and insert them into the cooler in reverse order of when they will be served, i.e. the first foods packed should be the last foods eaten. Pack drinks separately to keep the food cooler closed as much as possible. After the picnic, discard any perishable food if the ice has melted or your gel packs have thawed. The Food Police Unlike fancy presentation and delicious taste, maintaining proper food safety is generally an unseen (and therefore often unappreciated) skill. But its importance can hardly be underestimated, especially when serving children, the elderly or anyone whose immune system may be compro- mised. So take pride in your rigid food safety measures and keep your family (and guests) healthy and satisfied. COLD STORAGE FRESHNESS Product Refrigerator Freezer Salads with Egg, fish or Macaroni 3 to 5 days Hotdogs 1 to 2 Weeks 1 to 2 months Whole Chicken or Poultry 1 to 2 days 1 year Chicken or Turkey Pieces 1 to 2 days 9 months Vegetable or Meat Soups 3 to 4 days 2 to 3 months Cooked meat or poultry 3 to 4 days 2 to 6 months Pizza 3 to 4 days 1 to 2 months 573 Kings Highway (corner of E 5 th ) ● T: 718.627.0485 ● F: 718.627.2757 Mon-Thu 9-9 • Fri 9- 1 hr. beFore ShabbaT • Sun 10-8 Relax.... Have It Faxed.... Lounge Around.... We're Jersey Bound... Call It In.... Any Thing You Need.... We'll Get It To You With Great Speed!