Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1470102
10 | Health Matters: Providence St. Jude Medical Center AVOID Cross- contamination Make sure raw meat doesn't come into contact with other foods, like veggies, fruit or any other food you may chop on a cutting board. Have a separate cutting board for raw meat and all other foods. Undercooking Using a food thermometer is really impor tant when cooking foods like hamburgers, which always carr y a risk of carr ying microorganisms. The center of a burger should be heated to 160° F (although good luck convincing guests who love their burgers rare!). The danger zone Foods between 40° and 140°F should be left at that temperature no longer than two hours. Thinking of eating that potluck sushi that 's been left out for five hours? You may want to rethink that. Improper thawing Although it 's tempting to thaw meat on the counter, thawing should take place in the refrigerator or under cold running water in the sink. These methods keep foods out of the danger zone. The dirt Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before handling food and make sure to gently rinse fruits and veggies. Firecracker Fruit Salad In honor of the Fourth of July, check out this crisp and refreshing red- white-and-blue fruit salad. Berries and juicy watermelon are in season and ready to be taken up a notch. Pairing the fruit with a honey-and-lemon dressing and crunchy jicama really helps to dazzle your taste buds. FRUIT: 2 cups watermelon, cubed 1 cup blueberries 1 cup jicama, peeled and cubed DRESSING: 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon lemon zest Pinch of chili powder Mix dressing ingredients together and set aside. TOPPINGS: 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup chopped fresh mint ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese Combine fruit. Pour dressing over fruit and mix well, gently. Add fruit to serving platter. Sprinkle salt, mint and feta over top. Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve. Summertime Food Safety Tips: Summertime can present an opportunity for fun outdoor gatherings. To prevent foodborne illness, make sure to heed these important food safety tips: If you're the cook, you'll want to check out the CDC website for more info on preventing foodborne illness (cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html). Chef's kiss!