Are you one for making your meals from scratch? Well, you’re not alone, as more than 65 per cent of Australians are doing the same – fuelling a new ‘homemade’ hipster food trend.
From pickling vegetables, curing meats to bread making, there’s a growing number of Australians going back to basics to help create healthier, fresher and cheaper meals. You only need to jump on Instagram to see this latest hipster food trend taking over domestic kitchens across the country.
According to a market research company, Ipsos, they’ve discovered two out of every three Australians who prepare dinner, cook completely from scratch, mainly to create a healthy and cheaper meal.
“From scratch, cooks are seeking healthier, cheaper options for their meals and Australians like to prepare their meals using fresh ingredients,” the Ipsos’ Food CHATs report stated.
How To Safely Prepare Your Dishes At Home
So next time you cook up a homemade dish, be sure to follow these handy food safety tips to protect you and your family from foodborne illnesses:
- Wash your hands — use soap and warm running water when washing your hands. This should last for at least 20 seconds and happen before, during and after cooking your meal. This is especially important if you handle raw meat, raw eggs and trash.
- Beware of surfaces and utensils – wash all food preparation surfaces, chopping boards and utensils after each use to stop the spread of illness-causing bacteria.
- Rinse fruits and vegetables – even if you plan to peel fruits and vegetables, it’s important to wash them beforehand as bacteria can spread from the outside to the inside when you peel them.
- Use clean dishcloths – protect your kitchen and food by using a clean and good quality dishtowel. As bacteria can easily spread through dishtowels, it’s recommended you wash them frequently with the hot cycle of your washing machine.
- Check food labels – look at the label to make sure your food ingredient is still ‘in date’ and has been stored properly, according to the package instructions.
- Separation is good – a big no-no is not separating your raw foods including meat, fish and vegetables from ready-to-eat foods (e.g. salads, fruit and bread). As raw foods can contain harmful bacteria that can spread to other items such as cooked foods and work surfaces, separation is important!
Want More Tips and Information?
For more tips and information on managing your food safety, simply visit our Resources page or check out our Food Safety Courses.