Cooking and Corona (Virus)

Today let’s talk about a different kind of C.O.O.K.

Yes, this acronym stands for keeping the Coronavirus Out Of the Kitchen.

We’ve all heard the saying, that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and no better time than the present to put this into action with our daily practices.

In my home and in my professional kitchen, we don’t use a bunch of ready-made cleaners and sanitizers in fact we don’t use any unless we are washing the dishes.

We use the following sanitizer that is also used worldwide for wiping down hard surfaces in the finest of kitchens everywhere, and it only takes a dab of household bleach!

1 tablespoon of bleach per 1 gallon of water will give you a 50-200 ppm sanitizing solution. This can be used to sanitize dishes, utensils, food preparation counters and tables.

Source: Sanitizer and Disinfectant – NH DHHS

By implementing standard everyday practices we can help mitigate the risk of coronavirus from spreading in your home and giving it to others – it’s more than not shaking hands and washing them frequently.

Here are 5 common reminders on how we can help each other stay healthy:

  1. Washing your hands should last between 20-40 seconds. An easy timer is to sing the alphabet;
  2. Rinsing your soap after you’ve used it;
  3. Spraying your pump dispensers, light switches and taps after touching them;
  4. Preparing your food on a cutting board rather than directly on a countertop;
  5. Keeping cupboard, microwave and fridge handle disinfected throughout the day.

Being aware of where your fruits and vegetables are coming from and who may have had contact with them while displaying them out in the grocery store for your consumption and selection are also areas to be very careful of.

Washing your fruits and vegetables has never been more important than it is today!

A best practice to exercise in our daily lives is a simple, cost-effective solution of vinegar, lemon juice & water. For this mixture, go to the following link: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-your-own-fruit-and-veggie-wash-256797

You don’t have to have lots of money to make great at-home products that work!

NOTE: this solution will be more effective than running under cold water for washing fruits and vegetables. However, it will NOT disinfect. This solution will have no impact on covid-19 or any other virus.

Now, of course, we can go on and on for the importance of washing all foods and surfaces so to wrap it up let’s close with some dishwashing tips.

  1. Before washing dishes, you should always rinse them first.
  2. Always wash dishes in the hottest possible water with a good amount of soap and rinse them well under running hot water. Of course, a dishwasher is best if you have one.
  3. Do NOT dry your dishes with a cloth or on top of a soft pad. Air drying is the best way to dry your dishes without encouraging the growth of bacteria. A damp towel is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

According to Time magazine, you may be surprised to learn that the dirtiest space in a house is not the bathroom but rather our kitchens! If you are interested in the German study on this topic, here is a link you can check out https://time.com/5254808/how-to-wash-dishes-sponge/

On a final note, please let the Perogie Mama of Vancouver Island leave you with this….. enjoy the necessary break from the hustle and bustle of life that this unfortunate virus has bestowed upon us. Take this time to eat out less and stay home more with family and friends.

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