A kitchen routine built around four food-safety steps.

A busy kitchen benefits from a small set of dependable reminders. FoodSafety.gov organizes its guidance around four steps: cleaning, separating, cooking and chilling.

Clean and separate

Keep hands, utensils and relevant preparation surfaces clean. Separate raw foods that can contaminate other ingredients, including in their storage and preparation.

Cook and chill

Follow official guidance for appropriate cooking temperatures and prompt refrigeration. Appearance alone is not a reliable substitute for the checks recommended for the food you are preparing.

Make the guidance easy to find

Use the official resource below for temperature and storage details, rather than relying on a remembered number or a social-media shortcut. The right instruction depends on the food and situation.

Source

FoodSafety.gov: Four steps to food safety.