Tag Archives: food safety

The Difference Between “Best By”, “Sell By”, and “Use By” Expiration Dates

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Supermarket shelf Blurred Interior perspective as background

If you’re a savvy food shopper, you probably look at a product’s expiration date before making a purchase. Over the years, you may have noticed some different verbiage on these dates such as “best by”, “sell by”, and “use by”.

To the untrained eye, all of these terms mean the same thing. In reality, they do not. These small, subtle changes in wording actually change the entire meaning of the date.

Here is what each type of date means, according to the Institute of Food Technologists…

Best By

This is more of a general guideline than it is a strict expiration date. It simply means that the product will taste its best if consumed before that date. Eating a food after its “best by” date won’t necessarily get you sick, but it might have a slightly different taste, color, or texture.

Sell By

This label is aimed at retailers to help them keep track of their inventory. Typically, one-third of a product’s shelf life remains after the “sell by” date, a time period in which it is completely safe for consumption.

Use By

“Use by” is the typical expiration date. Be wary about eating any food after its use by date – you could risk getting sick. It is important to note that the appearance/smell of a food isn’t always a good indicator of how safe it is to consume.

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Speedy Refrigerator Service provides same-day refrigerator and freezer repairs to Long Island and New York City. Our technicians are fully licensed and insured, and have the tools and experience needed to fix any make or model of refrigerator. Our phone lines are always open, so call us any time to schedule your appointment at 866-782-9376.

Is It Safe To Store Food in Your Car During the Winter?

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When winter finally comes and the temperatures begin to dip into the 30s, many people turn to their cars and garages when they need some extra space to store their food. But is it safe?

There actually is no concrete answer, because there are too many variables. If you are trying to determine whether or not your food will be safe to store in your car, ask yourself the following questions:

What kind of food is it?

Different foods, and especially drinks, should be stored at different temperatures. Most refrigerated foods should be kept between 34-39° F to keep them from spoiling, frozen foods closer to the 0° mark.

Different beverages also have different freezing points, which is important to know in order to prevent them from exploding all over your back seat. Here are the different freezing points of different drinks:

  • Water, juice, diet soda – 32° F

  • Regular soda – 30° F

  • 24-proof liquor – 20° F

  • 64-proof liquor – -10° F

  • 84-proof liquor – -30° F

What’s the weather forecast?

This is probably the most important piece of information. You need to know just how cold it is outside, and how long you can expect it to stay that way. Overnight, temperatures may dip, resulting in unwanted frozen goods. On the other hand, temperature spikes during the day can cause your food to warm up and spoil prematurely.

It is important to remember that the inside of your car or garage will likely be up to 10° warmer than the outside temperature due to insulation. Having a thermometer handy is the only way you can be sure whether or not the temperature allows for safe storage

How long does the food need to be stored?

How long are you planning on keeping your food in the car before you eat it? Keeping leftover dinner in the car for a few hours while you catch a movie is different than leaving it in there for two or three days. However long you plan on storing it, you need to make sure to keep an eye on temperature fluctuations throughout the day.

If you are debating whether or not to store food in your car or garage, it is always best to err on the side of caution. More than 3 million Americans suffer from food poisoning every year, and poor storage conditions are one of the leading causes.

One thing that can cause improper storage conditions is a malfunctioning refrigerator. If the inside of your fridge feels unusually warm, contact the repair experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service. We guarantee one-hour service to anywhere on Long Island, so give us a call today at 866-782-9376.

Meat Thermometer | Long Island Frigidaire Refrigerator Repair | NYC

Common Food Safety Mistakes

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Sometimes
a small mistake can have big consequences, especially when it comes
to food safety. Some foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella, only
require 20 cells to be consumed before you become sick. Don’t be one
of the 48 million Americans that will get food poisoning this year,
avoid making these common food safety mistakes.
Thawing Food on the
Counter
In an effort to quickly defrost their frozen food, many people put it
on the counter for a couple of hours. The problem with this is that
pathogens on your food grow extremely quick at room temperature. Thaw
your food in the refrigerator or in cold water; if you are in a rush,
use the microwave.
Not
Washing Hands Enough
Washing your hands is vital in limiting your contact with harmful
bacteria – both inside the kitchen and out. For an effective hand
wash, use soap and warm water, and wash your hands for at least 20
seconds. You should be washing your hands several times throughout
the food-prepping process, especially if raw meat is involved.
Not
Replacing Sponges & Dish Rags
Sponges and dish towels are two of the dirtiest items in your entire
kitchen. Sponges provide a moist, dark climate that bacteria thrives
in, and multi-purpose rags are a leading cause of
cross-contamination. Have separate towels for the dishes, wiping down
counters, drying hands, etc. and make sure to wash them in hot water
regularly.
Eating
Undercooked Meat
Do not rely solely on sight and taste to determine if your meat is
fully cooked, the only way to know for sure is with a food
thermometer. Harmful bacteria can still live in cooked meat unless it
has been thoroughly heated all the way through to at least 160° F.
Keeping
Your Refrigerator Too Warm
Food safety experts refer to anything warmer than 40° F as “The
Danger Zone” because bacteria growth rates begin to rapidly spike
at this temperature. Keep bacteria at a standstill by keeping your
refrigerator between 32-38° F.
View more common food safety mistakes at FoodSafety.gov
Is your refrigerator failing to keep a cold, consistent temperature?
The experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service can fix it – we have
been repairing refrigerators and freezers in the tri-state area for
over 75 years! No matter the make or model, our licensed technicians
have the experience to get the job done, call us anytime to schedule
a same-day appointment at 866-782-9376.
Food Safety Eggs | Speedy Refrigerator Service

Food Safety Tips

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The
kitchen can be a dangerous place, and not for the reasons you are
thinking. While you can be burned by hot stove tops or cut by sharp
knives, the real danger lies elsewhere. Improper handling of your
food can lead to food poisoning and other illnesses. Keep yourself
and your stomach safe by following these tips.
  • Store your raw meat
    on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator.     Not
    only will this help keep it fresh for longer since it is the coldest
    area of the refrigerator, but it will prevent raw juices from
    dripping and contaminating foods beneath it.
  • Refrigerated food
    should never be kept out more than 2 hours.     When
    buying groceries, make sure to get them in the refrigerator in under
    two hours (one hour if the temperature of the air is 90° or higher)
    – after that they will no longer be good. 
     
  • Use a separate
    cutting board for your meat.     Avoid
    contaminating your fruits and vegetables by keeping a separate
    cutting board just for your raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Always wash your
    hands before and after dealing with food.     Your
    health is in your hands, make it a habit to wash them with soap and
    warm water for at least 20 seconds before and
    after
    you deal with food.
  • Replace or sanitize
    your sponge every two weeks.     Sponges
    provide the dark, moist climate that bacteria love. Replace yours
    every two weeks or sanitize it by throwing it in the microwave for
    two minutes to keep it clean and germ-free.
  • Always cook food
    thoroughly.     Avoid food
    poisoning and other illnesses by making sure to thoroughly cook all
    of your foods. Pork and poultry should be white on the inside and
    juices from red meat should run clear, not pink.
  • Keep your
    refrigerator at 39°F or below.
    40° and up is referred to as “The Danger Zone” because bacteria
    growth rates begin to triple. For optimal fresh food storage, keep
    your refrigerator between 34-38°.
If you
notice that your fresh food constantly spoils before its expiration
date, you may have a problem with your refrigerator. New York
residents can count on 24/7 Refrigerator Repair for fast service at
an affordable price. Our experts can fix any make or model of
refrigerator or freezer, and we are on call 24/7/365. Contact us at
any time to schedule a same-day appointment by calling 866-782-9376.
Washing Hands | Speedy Refrigerator Service

How to Limit Germs in the Kitchen

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As
discussed in yesterday’s article, the kitchen is a dangerous place.
Besides the sharp knives and pots of boiling hot water, your food can
be dangerous too. That’s right; the food in your kitchen could
potentially be ridden with bacteria and foodborne illnesses such as
salmonella if you don’t take proper precautions. Use these four tips
to limit germs in your kitchen.
Disinfect counters and
tables daily.
The
counters and tables in your kitchen are some of the dirtiest surfaces
in your entire home. Clean these areas twice every single day using a
paper towel and soap or a disinfecting wipe. Don’t use sponges to
clean tables, you risk transferring germs onto your dirty dishes or
vice versa.
Keep raw meat on the
bottom shelf.
Store
raw meat, fish, and poultry on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator.
This area is the coldest, so they will stay fresh for longer, plus it
has benefits in terms of food safety too. By being on the bottom
shelf, the packaged meat can’t leak or drip and infect the foods
below it.
Wash your hands.
Failing
to wash your hands before every stage of food preparation is putting
you at risk for cross-contamination. If you are handling raw chicken
then begin to chop vegetables without washing your hands first, you
are transferring all that bacteria without realizing it. A thorough
hand-washing should take at least 20 seconds and include soap and
warm water.
Keep your sponge clean.
With
all of the bacteria that your sponge comes in contact with on a daily
basis, it doesn’t take long before the sponge itself becomes ridden
with germs. If you use the same dirty sponge for too long, it begins
spreading more bacteria than it cleans. To be safe, replace your
sponge every two weeks or throw it in the microwave for 30 seconds to
disinfect it.
For
refrigerated food to stay fresh for as long as possible, it is
critical that your refrigerator is consistently below 40° F –
anything higher than that and bacteria growth rates begin to
skyrocket. If your refrigerator is not maintaining a constant
temperature, it could be heading towards a complete breakdown. If
your refrigerator isn’t operating properly and you live in New York,
call 24/7 Refrigerator Repair at 866-782-9376. We have more than 75
years of experience and provide emergency support every hour of every
day of the year.