Top 5 Tips to Cooking Poultry Safely and Bird Flu

1. Wash Hands

Hand washing is always a good idea in avoiding bird flu and any other infectious disease. Wash your hands right before and after preparing poultry, or any food for that matter. Use regular soap and warm water. Fingernails can harbor dirt and germs, so use a nail brush to scrub those fingernails clean.

2. Prevent Cross Contamination

Use a clean plate to put your cooked food on. Never reuse the cutting board you cut raw poultry on until after you have sanitized it.

3. Wash Up

Wash your knives, plates and other dishes with soap and hot water.

4. Sanitize Cutting Boards and Sponges

Sanitize cutting boards with a chlorine bleach solution. Add 4 teaspoons of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water. Soak them in the sink for 20 minutes. Do not forget to throw in your sponges and washcloths too and wear kitchen gloves to protect your hands. See also Sanitize Your Kitchen.

5. Use a Food Thermometer

Cook poultry until it is at least 165 F (70 C) inside and out. You can find a food thermometer at your local discount store. Buy two and keep one by the barbeque. Make sure you Calibrate Your Kitchen Thermometer to make sure it is working properly.