Great Grilling

The season for great grilling has begun! Family picnics, backyard barbeques… the possibilities are endless. When it comes to meat and seafood options, TOPS offers the best of the best in quality, selection and savings. Ensure your next cookout is a huge success with the following food safety tips and great grilling suggestions.

Protect your friends and family from harmful foodborne bacteria this summer with these food safety tips.

- Always wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.
- Keep hot food hot, and cold foods cold.
- Carry picnic foods in a cooler with a cold pack. Keep the cooler in the shade with the lid on.
- Never leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
- Use clean dishes and utensils to serve food. Each dish should have its own clean serving utensil.
- Preheat coals for 20 to 30 minutes or until coals are lightly coated with ash, when grilling foods.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure foods reach safe internal temperatures. Cooking by checking the color of the meat is not enough.
- Serve grilled food on a clean plate – not the same one that held raw meat, poultry or fish.

* Source: Michigan.gov, Department of Agriculture section.

Summer means grilling and we have some helpful tips to keep you cooking all season long.

Try a new side!
Grill veggies like bell peppers, zucchini or asparagus for a fun new addition to the usual barbeque fare. Brush with your favorite basting sauce to keep them moist and delicious.

Kabob Basics
Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before use to prevent them from catching fire.

Give it a rest.
For a truly tender meal, let grilled meat rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute.