5 tips for enjoying your festive end-of-year meals safely
Christmas and New Year's Eve are just around the corner. And when you think of the festive season, refined, gourmet meals with family and friends obviously spring to mind.
It’s good to know that food products like salmon, foie gras and oysters are extremely fragile. Therefore, they need to be treated with the utmost care. Did you know that using the same knife to cut raw fish followed by meat can cause indigestion or even food poisoning?
All you need to do to avoid any unpleasant surprises is adopt good habits. We've got five tips to help you prepare and store these festive dishes. Because it would be a shame to end 2023 with bad memories!
A fridge in top condition
A clean fridge is good, a clean and organised fridge is even better! Remember to organise your fridge every week and clean it once a month. A soft sponge and vinegar will do the trick for cleaning. But be careful, do not to use an abrasive sponge. It creates tiny cracks where bacteria can grow!
Second tip, cool leftovers for a few minutes at room temperature before putting them in the fridge. Why? To avoid condensation as much as possible, because humidity attracts bacteria! And above all, make sure you cover all food and preparations with a lid or cling film.
To avoid the proliferation of health-damaging microorganisms such as bacteria, place similar foods in suitable containers (Tupperware-style boxes or glass jars/dishes).
Adopt good habits
A golden rule for impeccable food hygiene is never mix raw and cooked food! Quite simply because raw food is food that has not been processed. It poses a risk of cross-contamination.
Wash and change your utensils between uses. Let's be honest, we don't like doing it, either because we don't have the time or because we just don't feel like it. But it is by far one of the most effective ways of minimising food contamination. If it really isn't possible, you can start with the products you're going to eat raw, and finish with those you're going to eat cooked.
The oyster platter, of course, but we do have some important tips...
What would a festive meal be without a platter of oysters on the menu? Here are four recommendations to avoid any unpleasant surprises:
- If you buy your oysters in a shop, buy them in a sealed packaging with a label showing the species and packaging date.
- In your fridge, store them flat with the bulge facing down so they don't lose their water.
- Oysters can be kept for 8 to 10 days. Ideally place them in the vegetable crisper in the fridge. And above all, we strongly advise against freezing them!
- Don't open the oysters until the last minute. They must remain in their water until they are consumed.
For meat lovers
More than ever, the festive season is synonymous with good quality meat. And what could be better than game! If you opt for this type of meat, consider the following:
- The hunter from whom you buy your meat must provide you with a certificate attesting that the meat actually conforms.
- If you buy wild boar direct from a producer, make sure you receive proof that it has been tested for trichinella. It is a parasite that can cause illness in humans.
- Game must be refrigerated to allow the meat to tenderise and age. Above all, remember that game should be defrosted in the fridge or microwave, NEVER at room temperature!
Last but certainly not least...
Do your festive meals always end with a sweet treat and ice cream? If so, bear in mind these five tips:
- If you buy your ice cream in a shop, the best thing to do is to keep it in an insulated bag and return home relatively quickly. If you're planning to do a lot of shopping, buy the ice cream last!
- Ice cream must be stored at a minimum of -9°C, so place the container in the coldest part of the freezer.
- For home-made preparations, make sure you clean your equipment thoroughly, especially if you plan to cook several dishes in a row.
- For those who like their ice cream soft, remember to put it in the fridge for 20 or 30 minutes before serving. In fact, this is much better than letting it warm up at room temperature.
- To avoid food contamination, never refreeze ice cream that has already been defrosted.
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