in summary- Safely defrosting foods
Proper defrosting reduces your risk of food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when you eat food that contains harmful bacteria.
Meat, poultry, fish and seafood must reach a safe internal cooking temperature to kill bacteria in the meat.
If food is not thawed properly, bacteria that may have been present on their surface before freezing can begin to multiply.
If raw meat is partly frozen when you cook it, it can lead to uneven cooking. This means certain parts of the meat may not reach the safe internal cooking temperature required to kill the bacteria.
When defrosting meat, poultry, fish and seafood, avoid cross-contamination by:
*sanitizing your:
-sink
-dishes
-utensils
-surfaces
*washing your hands
Some people are more at risk for food poisoning than others, including:
-seniors
-pregnant women
-children ages 5 and under
-people with weakened immune systems ...Read More