Do you know when you should “toss” or “keep” food? Take this simple test to find out. Questions1. Tacos left on the kitchen counter overnight? KEEP TOSS2. Meat thawed all day on the kitchen counter? KEEP TOSS3. Cut or peeled fruits and vegetables left at room temperature MORE than 2 hours? KEEP TOSS4. Leftover pizza placed in the refrigerator within 2 hours after it was cooked? KEEP TOSS5. Leftovers kept in the refrigerator for over a week? KEEP TOSSAnswers 1. TOSS. Some bacteria can form a heat-resistant toxin that cooking won’t destroy. Even if you reheat the tacos, some bacteria won’t be killed.. Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours!2. TOSS. As with the tacos, bacteria may have formed a heat-resistant toxin when the meat was left on the kitchen counter. The best place to thaw frozen perishable foods — like frozen meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit and cooked pasta and rice — is in the refrigerator! Make sure your refrigerator is 40°F or lower. Thaw packages of meat, poultry and seafood on a plate on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This prevents their juices from dripping on other foods. When thawing perishable food in the microwave, cook it immediately after thawing. Some areas of the food may start to cook during microwave thawing and become warm. Any bacteria present would not have been destroyed and may reach optimal temperatures for growth.3. TOSS. When fruit is peeled or cut, bacteria on the outside can be transferred to the inside. Refrigerate cut/peeled fruits, veggies & other perishable foods within 2 hours! Just 1 bacteria in foods can grow to 2,097,152 bacteria in 7 hours! What is the best way to clean fruits & vegetables?1. Remove and discard outer leaves.2. Rinse under clean, running water just before preparing or eating. Don’t use soap or detergent as it can get into produce and make you sick. Rinse fruits with peels even when the peel is removed such as melons and citrus fruits!3. Rub briskly — scrubbing with a clean brush or hands — to clean the surface.4. Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Moisture left on fruits and vegetables helps bacteria grow. Dry them if you won’t eat or cook them right away.5. Cut away bruised and damaged areas.4. KEEP. If perishable foods have been at room temperature less than 2 hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90°F), they should be safe. Refrigerate promptly; eat within 3 to 4 days.5. TOSS. Even refrigerated leftovers may become unsafe within 3 to 4 days. You can’t always see or smell or taste if a food is unsafe. You could get sick tasting a food! Remember: When in doubt ... TOSS IT OUT!!San Saba County Courthouse500 East Wallace Street, Ste 102San Saba, TX 76877(O) 325-372-5416Fax: 325-372-3851Email: cl-mcdowell@tamu.eduWebsite: http://sansaba-co.tamu.eduhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Saba-County-4-H