FOOD: Let’s play ... Keep or Toss Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Directions Click mouse on “keep” or “toss.” If you don’t have a mouse — or if the mouse is hard to control — hit “enter” or simply click mouse (without placing it on answer box) to move to next slide. Turn on your computer’s sound! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County Alice Henneman, MS, RD Joyce Jensen, REHS, CFSP University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County Lincoln–Lancaster County Health Dept. Download this PowerPoint at: http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/keep-toss.shtml Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide March 2007

Keep Toss Tacos left on the kitchen counter overnight? If you can’t click on “keep” or “toss,” hit “enter” on computer keyboard to move to next slide.

Toss! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Even if you reheat tacos left out overnight, some bacteria can form a heat-resistant toxin that cooking won’t destroy. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Keep Toss Hamburger thawed all day on the kitchen counter? If you can’t click on “keep” or “toss,” hit “enter” on computer keyboard to move to next slide.

Toss! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Remember how bacteria may have formed heat- resistant toxins when the tacos were left out overnight? Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide The best place to thaw frozen perishable foods — like frozen meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit and cooked pasta and rice — is in the refrigerator! Make sure your refrigerator is 40°F or lower. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Thaw packages of meat, poultry and seafood on a plate on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This prevents their juices from dripping on other foods. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

When microwave defrosting perishable food, cook it immediately after thawing. Some areas of the food may start to cook during microwave defrosting and become warm. Any bacteria present wouldn’t have been destroyed and may reach optimal temperatures for growth. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Leftover pizza placed in the refrigerator within TWO hours after it was cooked? Keep Toss If you can’t click on “keep” or “toss,” hit “enter” on computer keyboard to move to next slide.

Keep! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

If perishable foods have not been left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90°F), they should be safe. Refrigerate promptly; eat within 3 to 4 days. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Cut or peeled fruits/vegetables left at room temperature MORE than TWO hours? Keep Toss If you can’t click on “keep” or “toss,” hit “enter” on computer keyboard to move to next slide.

Toss! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Once you have cut through the protective skin of fruits and vegetables, bacteria can enter. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Refrigerate cut or peeled fruits and vegetables within TWO hours! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Just 1 bacteria in foods can grow to 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Cleaning fruits & veggies Remove and discard outer leaves. Rinse under clean, running water just before preparing or eating. Don’t use soap or detergent as it can get into produce and make you sick. Rub briskly — scrubbing with a clean brush or hands — to clean the surface. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Moisture left on fruits and vegetables helps bacteria grow. Dry them if you won’t eat or cook them right away. 6. Cut away bruised and damaged areas. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Rinse fruits with peels ― even when the peel is removed ― such as melons and citrus fruits! Bacteria on the outside of fruits can be transferred to the inside when fruit is peeled or cut. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Keep Toss Leftovers kept in the refrigerator for over a week? If you can’t click on “keep” or “toss,” hit “enter” on computer keyboard to move to next slide.

Toss! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Even refrigerated leftovers may become unsafe within 3 to 4 days. Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

You can’t always see or smell or taste if a food is unsafe You can’t always see or smell or taste if a food is unsafe. You could get sick tasting a food! Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Remember: When in doubt... Click mouse or hit “enter” for next slide

Toss it out!