Hygiene Habits in the Kitchen for this Quarantine

What began as a new type of coronavirus in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has now turned into one of the most dangerous pandemics worldwide. As of the third week of March 2020, the COVID19 coronavirus has infected over 340,000 people in 178 countries around the world. Although Mexico has only confirmed 475 cases and 6 deaths as of March 26, infections continue to rise, which is why the governors of each state have issued specific instructions to keep quarantined at home and avoid going out as much as possible. Even in Mexico City, a statement has been issued to keep cinemas, gyms, museums, churches, and other places where people gathered closed until April 20. Thanks to these actions, thousands of people are working from home or taking care of their children, who are also in quarantine due to the guidelines from the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), which ordered the suspension of activities in all educational centers at all levels. Now that everyone is at home, it is important not to let your guard down and to keep preventive measures active. This means that hygiene must be a primary focus in the entire home, especially in the kitchen, the common space that everyone inhabits and where any virus could easily be transmitted through utensils or food. Therefore, below we present a series of tips to maintain the hygiene of your kitchen and food and thus protect your entire family. Hygiene measures for the person cooking Wash your hands before you start cooking.Avoid coughing or sneezing over the food.If you went outside, change and wear a clean set of clothes before entering the kitchen.If you have cuts on your hands or arms, cover them properly.After cooking, wash the dishes with rubber gloves that you will use only for the kitchen area.Organization in the kitchen areas Try to keep your pantry in a cool and ventilated place, where food is kept away from light and heat sources, ideally at 17ºC.Wash your refrigerator with water and soap before putting new food in, preferably every week. Throw away any food that is already spoiled and don’t forget to clean thoroughly at the end of each month.Designate a special area for garbage where you can keep more than one bin to separate waste; this place should be away from food and the refrigerator. Ideally, you should take out the trash every 3 days or less, depending on how full your bins are. Don’t forget to wash your hands afterward.Clean the stove and sink each time you finish cooking. Regardless of whether there are stains or food residues left, it is important to wash these areas to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms.Cleaning utensils Use a separate cloth for each use, for example, one for cleaning surfaces, another for drying dishes, and another for drying your hands. Remember to wash them with soap, a bit of vinegar, and baking soda, and preferably dry them in the sun after using them.The sponge used for scrubbing dishes should be kept in a dry place after use.Utensils like knives, spatulas, graters, or peelers should be made of stainless steel or other smooth, waterproof materials. If they are made of other materials, soak them in water for 10 minutes before washing with soap.It is preferable that cutting boards for raw food be made of polyurethane, as wooden ones have pores that promote the accumulation of germs. Wash them with water, soap, and a stiff-bristled brush.Cleaning food Wash and disinfect herbs, fruits, and vegetables with soap or a microbicide before cooking them.Use fresh ingredients, especially when it comes to red meat, seafood, and fish.Cook raw meat immediately; otherwise, freeze it to prevent spoilage.Avoid consuming reheated food, as in addition to risking eating spoiled food, it also loses its nutrients.Would you add any other actions to this list?