11 mistakes that many commit daily and that can contaminate food and harm your health

We know that the watchword of those who cook for the family every day is practicality. And in the name of it and also of the economy, many people adopt certain habits when it comes to cooking, cleaning, storing and serving food. These are customs that are hardly questioned.

However, for those who are concerned about contamination and disease, questioning is very important. Even in the home kitchen, we can adopt healthier habits, suggested by experts and proven by science. Just a little more knowledge and willingness to change!

So, we from awesome.club We’ve put together some habit tips you need to change if you want to avoid contamination and preserve your health and that of your family.

Practicality is to finish lunch and store the pans with food leftovers directly in the fridge. However, care must be taken with this habit, as the lids of the pots do not close hermetically, which can lead to contamination of the food, in addition to altering its flavor. After all, your fridge can contain several microorganisms. The ideal is to transfer the leftovers to plastic or glass pots, well closed and protected.

Did you open a can of tomato paste, green corn or sardines and didn’t use it all? Do not store it in the refrigerator, not even closed with plastic wrap. The risk of contamination is great, both from microorganisms present in the air and from substances inside the can. Then, transfer what is left to a small plastic or glass pot, with a lid that closes hermetically. Even better: put a label with the expiry date on the can, so you don’t forget.

Who doesn’t like a pan that doesn’t stick to anything? We all love them and become such fans of them that, when we find a good one, we don’t want to let go, not even when they get old. That’s the problem. Especially after they start to peel, the nonstick can release metals like aluminum and nickel, contaminating food. So, when your pot or pan gets old, don’t be afraid and change it immediately!

Speaking of pots, many people love to cook that feijoada or tripe in a clay pot on Sunday. After all, they keep the temperature for much longer. On the other hand, because they are porous, they can hide food residues, which facilitates the proliferation of microorganisms and poses serious health risks. Therefore, if you insist on using clay pots, be sure to be extra careful when scrubbing and dry thoroughly before using them, but the ideal is to avoid using them.

Have you ever heard that saying “a beautiful viola on the outside, moldy bread on the inside”? This is exactly why you shouldn’t remove the moldy part of bread, or other foods, and eat the apparently “good” part. Mold is caused by toxic fungi, and that green or whitish part is just the part we can see, that is, the spores that go outside the food seeking to multiply. That is, the fungus is still there, invisible and dangerous.

The sponges we use to wash dishes and utensils are also extremely porous and, as they are in a humid environment, very conducive to the housing of microorganisms. To avoid contamination, wash it well with water and detergent after use and let it dry. Without this care, in a week it will already be contaminated and will need to be changed. For domestic use, it is also possible to use biodegradable vegetable sponges, but they require the same care.

We know this can make our wistful hearts ache, but we need to face the truth: it’s time to retire the wooden board. Cutting boards made of this material are also very porous and accumulate residue. The ideal is to use plastic or glass boards. Even so, you should keep them sanitized and always pay close attention. At the first sign of cracking or cracking, its replacement is recommended. The same rule goes for all your wooden utensils in the kitchen. Yes, including the wooden spoon.

Many people have the habit of waiting for food to cool down to store it in the fridge. The fact is that, for microbiology, all food handled has some contamination. With that in mind, the sooner you store it in the fridge, the lower the chances of micro-organism proliferation. In time: in addition to the correct containers mentioned above, the ideal is to store them in the freezer, where the temperature is −15º C, or in the middle part of the refrigerator, at around 4º C.

Leaving food defrosting all morning on the counter or in the sink may even be faster, but it’s also dangerous. In an open environment, food can be contaminated by microorganisms present in the air. The ideal is to defrost in the refrigerator, in the lowest part. After defrosting, if you are not going to use everything, you can freeze it again, as long as it has not been out of the refrigerator for more than 30 minutes.

In the case of meat, keep it in the package and wrap it in a cloth or place a plate underneath, so that the liquid does not run through the refrigerator, as it may contain microorganisms that die during cooking, but contaminate those we eat raw and are stored in the refrigerator . Are you in a hurry to defrost? Prefer to use the microwave.

When it comes to food safety, take your time! Starting when buying greens, vegetables and fruits, choose carefully and avoid those that show a change in color, are withered or soft, pierced, cracked, etc. Give preference to seasonal vegetables, they are fresher. When you get home, wash everything very well and dry it before storing or consuming it, including packaging for industrialized products.

Many families have this custom of leaving a wet cloth in the sink. It may even be useful, but it’s the preferred place for bacteria to reproduce. With that, soon your sink will be contaminated, then your utensils and, finally, the food. If you insist on using the cloth, prefer disposable ones and throw them away as soon as you use them. Or leave it somewhere to dry, as bacteria don’t like a dry environment.

Habits don’t seem easy to change, especially kitchen ones, passed down from generation to generation. However, when starting with these tips, you will gradually realize that it is not so difficult when the focus is on improving the quality of life. So tell us: which of these habits are you going to change even today?