Chicken is among the most favorite foods in the world. Interestingly, USA is the country to consume the highest quantity of chicken. It annually consumes 15,000 metric tons of chicken approximately.
When it comes to preparing this poultry meat, grilling is found to be a method that people enjoy a lot. Grilled chicken is used in a wide array of recipes including sandwiches, burgers, salads, and wraps, and is also consumed alone (such as grilled chicken breasts and wings).
There are many health benefits of eating grilled chicken. These include protein gain, weight loss, immunity boost, and improved bone strength. The secret to getting these benefits is to grill chicken in the right way. For that, you need to take certain safety measures. So, here's a look at the top safety tips to grill chicken perfectly.
Keep raw chicken away from veggies and other food that you wish to eat without cooking. This can help prevent bacterial cross-contamination. Consider cutting raw chicken on another surface than that for other foods. After that, use soap and hot water to wash all the utensils, plates, and cutting boards that the raw meat has touched. Make sure to use new utensils and serving plates for cooked food.
Wash your hands using soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds after handling raw chicken and before cooking food. Ask anyone else to do the same if that person also handles food.
Remember to keep the meat in your refrigerator until you grill it. If there is any leftover meat from grilling, store it in the refrigerator within 2 hours (or 1 hour if the room temperature is more than 90 F) or keep it warm (at 140 F or more). In case there is any ground chicken you won't use in 2 days, freeze it.
You can't say whether the meat is thoroughly cooked by looking at its internal color. To be sure that it is cooked properly, push a food thermometer into the thickest area of the chicken and continue to cook until the temperature rises to 165 F. It goes for a whole chicken, boneless chicken breasts, and even ground chicken.
When you are not having food, keep it covered to protect it from insects and germs. For instance, bugs pick up germs on their bodies and deposit them anywhere they sit. If you find an insect on a piece of chicken, throw it away to avoid it from getting contaminated.
Annually, around 48 million Americans are reported to have food poisoning. It usually happens from consuming undercooked animal products like poultry and meat. Bacteria like salmonella and E. Coli are often found in chicken and some other meats. It's a must to cook meat thoroughly to destroy the bacteria and other germs to avoid stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and other health problems. So, follow the above tips to grill meat properly or simply order quality grilled chicken from us!