Millions of American will get together this weekend in front of their televisions to watch Super Bowl 54, and that means a lot of food will be consumed. An estimated 1.8 billion chicken wings will be eaten as football fans watch the Big Game. USDA spokesperson Janell Goodwin tells WSJM News you should follow four rules of food safety. They are clean, separate, cook, and chill. Let’s start with cook.
“Use a food thermometer when you’re cooking those chicken wings,” Goodwin said. “You want to make sure they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and you want to measure in the thickest part of the wing. Chill, you have halftime, you have those commercials, make sure your food stays at a safe temperature. That means keeping your cold foods cold, and your hot foods hot.”
As for clean, that means wash your hands with soap and warm water. Separate means keep different kinds of food apart to avoid cross contamination. How about left overs?
“Throw food out that has been out for longer than two hours. Last but not least, you want to make sure that you place your leftovers in shallow containers, and refrigerate or freeze them so you can enjoy them safely the next day.”
Goodwin says it’s a good idea to change out the dips during halftime. You can find all the information you need at the USDA’s website. Also, follow USDA Food Safety on Twitter.
