As grills fire up across the country for Independence Day celebrations, the U S Department of Agriculture is reminding families to keep food safety top of mind to avoid any unwanted illnesses during holiday cookouts.

“Safe food handling is the best ingredient for a successful cookout,” said Dr. Denise Eblen, Administrator of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

To help keep your celebration safe, the USDA recommends the following:

Thaw Food Safely — Thaw frozen meat or seafood in the refrigerator, cold water, or microwave. Cook immediately after using cold water or microwave methods. Treat all frozen products as raw, even if they appear cooked.

Marinate in the Fridge — Always marinate meat in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Never reuse marinades from raw meat unless boiled first.

Cook to Safe Temperatures — Use a thermometer, not color, to check doneness. Safe internal temperatures are:

   145 F for steaks, chops, roasts, and seafood

   160 F for ground meats

   165 F for poultry

Avoid the Danger Zone: Bacteria multiply between 40 F and 140 F. Keep hot foods above 140 F and cold foods below 40 F. Do not leave food out for more than two hours, or one hour in high heat.

Use slow cookers, chafing dishes, or coolers with ice to maintain proper temperatures while outdoors.

For more information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.