#Food Safety

#Food Safety

Costco makes it easy to return and get a refund on just about any product, even without a receipt. But this warehouse retailer has its limits. Some items, like electronics, have shorter return windows, and others you can't return at all, like alcohol or tires, even if you used them just once. And when it comes to food returns, some items have extra rules.

It happens to all of us. Your parents get older, you get older, you go to visit home, look through the pantry, and you find some truly unexplainable stuff. I'm talking about something no one has seen in decades. Something that doesn't even resemble what it's supposed to be. Something that might kill a small Victorian child. Or a medium-sized Edwardian child. Or even a full-sized Stuart period boy.

"For the cold water method, leave the turkey in its original wrapping and submerge it in a sink (or container) full of cold water. It is important that the water be cold so that the turkey stays at a safe temperature. You should change the water every 30 minutes. Empty out the water and replace it with fresh cold water. With this method, allow 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound, so a 16-pound turkey will take 8 hours to thaw

No summertime backyard cookout or Mexican street food experience is complete without corn on the cob - and who better to give us corn on the cob tips than Jorge Guzmán, the executive chef and partner at modern Mexican restaurant Sueño and a James Beard Award finalist? Corn is, after all, a crop that originated in Mexico, and it's the foundation of Mexican cuisine and culinary identity. But how can you tell if the corn cob you picked up at your local farmers market or grocery store isn't up to snuff? According to Guzmán, the telltale sign your corn on the cob won't be very tasty is tactile.

Although it is one of the worst kitchen items to clean, regularly cleaning your microwave can prevent icky odors and drips that could affect the quality or taste of your food. You can also lower the risk of bacteria buildup and mold growth. Plus, after a while, letting messy residue accumulate in and on your appliance can even affect its performance and lifespan.

We take these matters seriously and are committed to providing a safe, clean environment for our customers and team members. We've acted immediately to address the concerns, enhancing our cleaning measures, increasing staffing to maintain standards, and are working closely with the Boston Board of Health,

Some of us will cut off the bruise and eat the rest, but evidence shows that a lot of bruised apples are tossed out. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, about 45% of all fruits and vegetables are wasted. That's 3.7 trillion apples. The creators of Arctic apples saw that as a major problem they needed to fix as they attempted to design an apple that wouldn't turn brown, allowing it to stay fresher longer.

Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Cheese made from contaminated raw milk was found to contain infectious avian influenza virus, raising potential health concerns for consumers, according to new research. The study also found that no virus was detected in samples of raw milk cheese with high acidity. Feta cheese, which is naturally more acidic, served as an example of this safer variety. The findings were published on October 8 in Nature Medicine.

You can never have too much of a good thing, the saying goes. For months now, Americans treated protein that way. What started as a fringe supplement used mostly by "gym bros and fitness-obsessed teens," as Consumer Reports journalist Paris Martineau put it, has transformed into a full-blown mass-market wellness movement. There's protein pastas, protein cereals, protein sodas, and even Starbucks protein cold foam.

So I nearly spit out my smoothie when I read that a new study from Consumer Reports found that many popular protein powders also contain more lead per serving than their experts advise consuming in a single day. The plant-based protein powders tended to contain the highest lead levels, while animal and whey-based options tended to be on the lower side.

Making your own beef jerky not only saves money but also allows you to fully customize the flavor of your snack. In this recipe, written with developer Michelle McGlinn, the beef is marinated in a sweet and spicy hot honey and ancho chile sauce, then dehydrated in the oven until chewy and pliable. The best part? Though a dehydrator is useful for many foods, you don't need it to make jerky.

While filleting fish takes the salmon off the main skeleton, fish fillets may still contain what's known as pin bones or sharp spikes that run through the flesh. These can be sifted out as you eat but they are easy to miss and could leave you with a mouthful of nasty surprises. Removing the pin bones before cooking makes for a much more enjoyable dining experience, and it's a non-negotiable if you're making sashimi, cured salmon, or salmon tartare.