There are times when we walk the line and indulge in questionable foods. Two-for-one steak dinners at a local rest-stop diner or those year-old gas station hot dogs that suddenly look appetizing. We know full well when making those decisions that we may suffer consequences -- like food poisoning -- from these brave actions. Yet, we take the risk. And sometimes we get sick.
But when preparing food in your own home, most of us would assume that we're free of that danger. Unfortunately, this just isn't the case. There are a handful of all-too-often committed cooking mistakes many home cooks make that can make you and your family sick -- really sick. Don't let that happen to you. Click through the slideshow below to make sure you're not committing any of these dangerous cooking acts.
You should always use a different plate for raw meat and cooked meat. The same is true for seafood and poultry. Germs from the raw food can transfer from the plate onto the meat you're just about to serve.
Don't thaw meat on the counter because germs can spread rapidly at room temperature. It's best to thaw foods either in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave.
Despite what logic might imply, washing your meat in the kitchen sink is not sanitary. It can spread germs to the sink itself and surrounding countertops.
