8 Tools and Tips for Cooking Healthy Meals Safely at Home

Sep 30, 2023

While you're prepping and cooking healthy meals, use these tips and gadgets to make sure your food and your kitchen are safe.

Cooking at home is a healthy and pleasant way to prepare your meals, but there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. Accidentally undercooking your chicken, or eating something dodgy, can put a damper on your dinner in a hurry. With a little help from informative websites, apps, and smart gadgets, however, preparing your meals the safe way will become second nature.

Many foods must reach a minimum internal temperature while cooking before you can eat them without getting sick. For instance, steak should hit a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, while an egg dish like a quiche needs to reach 160 degrees, according to the FoodSafety.gov chart. (It's a helpful reference for cooking just about any dish to the correct temperature.)

To check for doneness, a basic food thermometer can help ensure your chicken or other meat gets cooked to the proper temperature. On the other hand, a smart meat thermometer with Bluetooth lets you kick back and relax while your food reaches the correct heat. Whatever variety you choose, food thermometers are wonderful tools for any home cook.

Cooking-related fires are the leading cause of home blazes, and they are responsible for many injuries, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Cooking is a common cause of accidental home fires across much of Europe as well, according to the European Fire Safety Alliance.

To avoid this risk, keeping an eye on your food the whole time you're cooking is critical. Don't leave the kitchen area while food is cooking. If you must leave, first shut off the burner.

Many home cooks are diligent about monitoring their food as it cooks. Distractions can definitely happen, however, so staying alert for potential fires is the next best step. Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen at all times. For smaller grease fires, you may use baking soda—not water—to put it out, according to FireRescue1.

With this in mind, make sure the smoke detector in your kitchen functions well and contains fresh batteries. If it's time for a new one, consider a smart smoke alarm with carbon monoxide detectors as well. You and your home will be safer for it.

If you want another way to ensure your food reaches the correct temperature—and make some incredibly delicious meals in the process—consider investing in a sous vide machine.

Because it cooks foods at a very specific temperature, sous vide machines are incredible for safely cooking just about anything. It also does away with the risk of overcooking your meats, so there's almost no risk of dry chicken or tough steak. The best sous vide machines will help you whip up all kinds of meats, vegetables, and more with the push of a button.

If you’re having a party or picnic, try not to leave warm or cold food out for more than an hour or two. Beyond that, you might be inviting some nasty bacteria to your dinner party.

To make sure it's safe to eat, keep hot foods at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or above, according to the Mayo Clinic. To make it easy, use a chafing dish or a smart kitchen gadget like an Instant Pot. For chilly dishes, keep a cooler stocked with ice on hand.

Ever pull something out of your refrigerator you don't recognize anymore? It happens to almost everyone from time to time. For the most part, it's generally advised to consume fresh foods soon after purchase. To be extra safe, you can review the extensive USDA FoodKeeper app, which tells you about how long most foods are safe to eat.

Scrolling the app is a handy way to review the best times to consume just about anything. For instance, fresh chicken is best when consumed about a day or two after purchasing, while dried beans can last a year or two. The app is an especially helpful companion when you're cleaning out the pantry or refrigerator.

Download: USDA FoodKeeper for iOS | Android (Free)

If someone in your household is sensitive to shellfish, nuts, or other ingredients, then there are plenty of great mobile apps to help you deal with food allergies. These can help you decode complicated food labels and identify potential allergens in long ingredient lists.

It's a common setup: you flit between the recipe on your phone or tablet screen and the vegetables you're chopping up for dinner. Although the proliferation of healthy cooking and recipe apps has turned your smartphone into a de facto piece of kitchen equipment, there's a different health aspect to consider. Namely, when was the last time you sanitized your phone?

Phone surfaces regularly contain loads of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, according to the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Even if you're otherwise cautious about keeping a tidy and sanitary kitchen, swiping at your phone while cooking may not be the healthiest option. On the other hand, you probably don't want to potentially contaminate your phone after touching raw chicken, either.

To get around this potential issue, you can thoroughly clean your iPhone and all of its components—or invest in a UV phone sanitizer box—before starting your meal prep. Don't forget to wash your hands frequently while cooking.

Alternatively, take a note from YouTuber Chop Happy and wrap your phone in cling wrap before beginning your meal. It's a super-simple way to keep using your phone or tablet while cooking without potential contamination.

As it turns out, there are even a few safety measures to keep in mind when working with frozen food. For instance, it's best to thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in cold water, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Using hot water or leaving food out on the counter for hours may encourage bacteria to start multiplying. On the other hand, some of the best kitchen gadgets, such as the 4T7 Smart Meal Prep System, can quickly and safely defrost your frozen meals.

Being mindful and cautious in the kitchen can go a long way toward safely cooking your favorite foods. Practicing safe food handling skills, as well as using tech like smart food thermometers, will help ensure your home-cooked meals are both delicious and healthy.

Lindsay E. Mack is a seasoned writer with a focus on health and fitness technology, having authored over 2,000 articles for various industries over the past decade. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Business Administration. As an active athlete and early adopter of fitness apps, she loves testing new technology for MUO's readers.