Food+Borne+Illness

Strawberry Cheesecake torte and Grilled Chicken Dear Epic Fail, Next week I'm having a party with lots of guests and everyone is bringing something to eat. The last time I had a party, plenty of things went wrong, and people got sick, but I couldn't narrow where the problem was because not everyone ate the same thing. To avoid the problem all together, I ask for your advice. I am planning to cook and make salmon and strawberry cheesecake tort. I also could use some advice on what to do with the other guests food upon their arrival.

Sincerely the Poison Apple

Dear Poison Apple

When it comes to a party you always want your guests to leave satisfied so here are a few tips. When grilling your chicken there are several things to kep in mind, if its frozen thaw it in the fridge, microwave or in the sink but not on the counter. Be sure the end temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the microorganisms or bacteria, otherwise your party could come down with ecoli; a very unpleasant illness. While your waiting for all your guest to arrive make sure to keep it heated by maybe keeping your oven on warm after its been grilled to the temperature. Your other dish is a little more complex so it will have a few more tips to follow. All perishables should be kept in the fridge this includes the fruits, eggs and dairy products if not they could spoil go bad and give you or your friends a bad case of food poisoning or just a bad taste in your mouth. Jams are also recommended to be kept at cooler temperatures to last longer but this all depends on preference. Pound cake is an important part of this dish so make sure its cooked the whole way through raw eggs are not always safe. If you have to follow a few other steps before you come back to the cake then its best to cover it and put it in the fridge. Another important thing to do is to keep it cool after everything is finished and through many steps along the way. For both dishes make sure your space is sanitary and the utensils and tools you use are clean, wash your hands after you go to the bathroom, coughing or sneezing, handling an animal and before and after dealing with each food. When your guests start to arrive store their food properly while you wait for everyone so that it doesn't spoil. Key thing to keep in mind keep the cold dishes in the refrigerator or freezer, and keep the warmer dishes on a hot plate, stove or in the oven.

Sincerely Epic Fail