Kitchen germs

Apparently, they are lurking everywhere- Ewww! Following an article I recently read (Good Housekeeping, Oct. 2009) I thought I'd share with you some findings on how to best get rid of the germs in your kitchen.

For sponges and scrubbers, the best method for ridding them of bacteria is a bleach solution (3/4 C bleach to 1 gallon of water- soak for 5 min). The 2nd best is the microwave (saturate with water, microwave on high for 1 min. for scrubbers and 2 min. for cellulose sponges).

As for cutting boards, it's best to use a plastic one as they are dishwasher safe (use the sanitize setting to disinfect them after contact with meat).

Make sure you continually wipe down your counter tops as you are cooking and avoid cross contamination. Be sure that the knife you use to cut raw meat finds it's way to the sink before you accidentally use it to cut vegetables. Thoroughly wash your cutting board after cutting your meat also to avoid any potential risks of bacteria from the meat.

Happy and safe cooking!