On July Fourth, the aroma of barbecue will fill the air as people come together to celebrate with quintessential American cooking pastimes: grilling and smoking meat. Food is a big part of celebrating the Fourth, aside from the fireworks.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is asking everyone to take the proper precautions during food prep. Thaw the meat or poultry first. Marinate your protein in the refrigerator. Do not marinate on the counter. Keep the raw meat and poultry separated. Use different cutting boards and utensils for raw meats and poultry. Do the same thing when the food is fully cooked. Keep the smoker and grill at a safe temperature.
Cook the meats to a safe internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb, veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temp of 145 F before removing from the heat source.
