Domestic Cleaning Belfast - News & Tips

Outside Cleaning

Barbeques: The first warm day of the year usually heralds the start of the barbecue season - even if that day constitutes the beginning and end! Many assume that any debris on a barbecue grill will be effectively 'burnt off' and not present a health hazard to anyone. However, when cooking out-of-doors there's a greater risk of causing food poisoning than usual.

Top tips

• Clean your barbecue thoroughly before and after each use. Cleaning after use means food won't get caked on and prove impossible to get off again at a later date; cleaning beforehand removes any dust, dirt or other residue that may have built up between usages.
• Don't forget that bacteria thrive on warm temperatures, and can double every 20 minutes, so store food alongside you in a cool box whilst it's waiting to go on the barbecue.
• Pre-cook risky foods such as chicken and sausages immediately before they are ready to transfer to the barbecue for finishing off: if you leave them around part-cooked for any length of time, losing heat, the bacteria will once again start to multiply.
• Wash your hands before and after handling food, and between handling raw and cooked products. This will help to avoid transferring bacteria from raw foods.
• Use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked foods.
• Keep exposed food covered with an umbrella-style net food cover to keep flies and other insects away.
• Cover any uneaten food immediately and bring it indoors. Allow it to cool before chilling as quickly as possible.