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Safe Food Preparation

Prevent contamination when preparing and serving meals by following these guidelines for cooking temperatures, food handling, and cleaning.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Find out how to safely prepare all types of poultry, including game poultry. Offers a special section on turkey.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Learn how to safely use a microwave for cooking tasks, like reheating or defrosting.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Learn what the "sell by" date means for food safety.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Find important information on grilling, including food safety concerns and health concerns.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Safe handling of leftovers is very important to reducing foodborne illness. Follow these recommendations for handling leftovers safely.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Find out how to safely prepare all types of meats, including beef, bison, pork, veal, lamb, goat, rabbit, and more.

USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service

Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline on weekdays to receive answers to your personal food safety questions.

HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

​​​​​​Keep food poisoning out of holiday celebrations with these cooking and serving tips.

HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

​​​​​​Choose and prepare fruits and vegetables safely so you can enjoy their nutrition benefits while removing germs.

HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

​​​​​​Raw dough can contain harmful germs that are only killed by cooking. Use these tips to stay safe when baking or cooking with flour.

HHS, Food and Drug Administration

Learn food safety techniques such as purchasing safe food, practicing safe handling while in the kitchen, and properly storing food and leftovers. Also available in PDF.

HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Whether you are a home cook, a professional chef, or a recipe writer, there are some easy steps you can take to help keep your food safe all the way from the grocery store to the kitchen table.

HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

As you enjoy fresh produce, follow these safe handling tips to help protect yourself and your family.

HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Learn how to select, cook, and store eggs to avoid contamination and complications with foodborne illness.

HHS, Foodsafety.gov

If you suspect that a food is contaminated or has made you or someone that you know sick, follow these guidelines to report it.

Colorado State University Extension

Learn five simple steps to wash your hands properly before preparing food.