During the summer, everyone likes to go out and have fun in the sun. Usually, there will be a lot of cooking and barbequing involved. However, it’s important that you follow the correct steps if you want to cook these foods safely. Luckily, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the following steps if you carry food with you to the beach:

  1. Bring premoistened antibacterial towelettes for washing hands before and after handling food.
  2. Wrap raw meats securely in plastic wrapping or plastic bags to prevent cross-contamination.
  3. Transfer food or thawed meats directly from the refrigerator to the cooler.
  4. Don’t put drinks in the same cooler as the meat or other food. This will allow the cooler with the meat to remain colder for longer.
  5. Use plenty of ice to keep foods cold.
  6. As soon as you remove meat from the cooler, put it on the grill. Waiting increases the likelihood of contamination.
  7. Barbecue all meats thoroughly – try to cook everything you eat so that it is well done.
  8. Keep cooked meat on the side of the grill rack to keep it hot until served.
  9. Throw out any food that has been out for longer than two hours.
  10. It’s okay to pack leftover foods. Just make sure that you use a small container to put them in, and to put them in a cooler with ice until you get home.
  11. Transfer your leftovers from your cooler to the refrigerator immediatly.