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Show Page tHI 8 Tips on slow cooker safety By Margie Memmott USU Extension Home Economist Opening the front door on a cold winter evening and being greeted by the inviting smells of beef stew or chicken noodle Handling Leftovers - Store leftovers in shallow covered containers and refrigerate within two hours after cooking is finished. Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker. cooker is not recommended. Choose to make foods with a However, cooked food can be high moisture content such as brought to steaming on the stove chili, soup, stew or spaghetti top or in a microwave oven and sauce. then put into a preheated slow Cut food into chunks or small cooker to keep hot for serving. pieces to ensure thorough cooking. Do not use the slow cooker for large pieces like a roast or whole chicken because the food will cook so slowly it could re- Central Utah public health soup wafting from a slow cooker can be a diners dream come true. But winter is not the only time a slow cooker is useful. In the summer, using this small appliance can avoid introducing heat from a hot oven. At any time of year, a slow cooker can make life a little more convenient because by planning ahead, you save time later. And it takes less electricity to use a slow cooker rather than an oven. Is A Slow Cooker Safe? Yes, the slow cooker, a countertop appliance, cooks foods slowly at a low generally be- tween 170 and 280 degrees F. The low heat helps less expensive, leaner cuts of meat become tender and shrink less. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam created within the tightly-covere- d container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods. Safe Beginnings - Begin with a clean cooker, clean utensils and a clean work area. Wash hands before and during food preparation. Keep perishable foods re- frigerated until preparation time. If you cut up meat and vegetables in advance, store them separately in the refrigerator. The slow cooker may take several hours to reach a safe, bacte-ria-killi- ng Con- temperature. stant refrigeration assures that bacteria, which multiply rapidly at room temperature, wont get a head start during the first few hours of cooking. Thaw and Cut Up Ingredients. Always defrost meat or poultry before putting it into a slow main in the bacterial danger board will meet zone too long. Use the Right Amount of Food. Fill cooker no less than half full fill. and no more than Joyce Poulson, Chair of the cook slower Central Utah Board of Public than Vegetables meat and poultry in a slow cooker Health, has announced a meetso if using them, put vegetables ing of the Board on December 13, in first, at the bottom and around 1994. The meeting is scheduled sides of the utensil. Then add for 7 p.m. at the Cedar Hollow meat and cover the food with liq- Restaurant, 2087 S6uth Main in Nephi two-thir- ds uid such as broth, water or barbecue sauce. Keep the lid in place, removing only to stir the food or check for doneness. Settings - Most cookers have two or more settings. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for y cooking or for cuts, you may want to use the low setting. If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. However, its safe to cook foods on low the entire time if youre leaving for work, for example, and your preparation time is limited. While food is cooking and once its done, food will stay safe as long as the cooker is operating. Power Out - If you are not at home during the entire process and the power goes out, throw away the food even if it looks done. If you are at home, finish cooking the ingredients immediately by some other means: on a gas stove, on the outdoor grill or at a house where the power is on. When you are at home, and if the food was completely cooked before the power went out, the food should all-da- less-tend- er slow-cooki- ng Street in Nephi, Utah. Some items scheduled for discussion at the meeting are: 1994 and 1995 Operating Budgets, Financial Report, Communicable Disease Control, Personal Health Service and Environmental Health. Central Utah Board of Public Health meetings are open to the public in accordance with Utahs Sunshine Law. weed control on public lands to reduce noxious weeds, says BUiI district manager BLIiI will continue Armed with an additional $100,000, the Richfield District, Bureau of Land Management plans to continue its weed control program to reduce the invasion of noxious weeds on Public Lands. Jerry Goodman, BLM District Manager said noxious weeds are, an increasing problem on Public Lands and Multiple Use Management and we appreciate those who recognize the problem and sure helping the Bureau in this battle. Thanks to Senators Hatch and Bennett efforts, $100,000 was identified in the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 1995 for noxious weed control on the Richfield District. According to Goodman, Merlin Ashman Sevier County Commissioner, Gordon Young Juab County Commissioner and Commissioner Tony Dearden Millard County carried out a tireless campaign to bring this issue to the attention of our congressional delegation, state and federal officials as well as local governments. Commissioner The Department of the Interior and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (District) recently signed a contract authorizing the District to utilize up to $69 million in Federal funds to complete construction of the Diamond Fork Pipeline of the Central Utah Project. Construction is scheduled to begin October 1995. take action. The Richfield District has ac- knowledged the problem of noxious weeds and has aggressively pursued the control of the problem, however the problem has been bigger than the Districts budget. Sheril Slack, District Staff Range Conservationists said, We are dealing with several types of plants but mainly the thistles, and knapweeds are the main ones and we are looking at various control techniques such as by hand (volunteers), chemical and the use of biological agents. Presently the District has hired two seasonal employees to chemically treat areas of high infestation. A problem with weed control is that it is not just a one time effort but it needs to be continued over a span of several years due to the fact that the seed can remain viable for! many years in the ground, con- tinued Slack. The District pianist to use approximately $70,000 fc the control of knapweed and aph proximately $30,000 for thistle control. Noxious weeds have a negative impact of several segments of jj multiple use management? Dense stands of thistle are a det1 riment to livestock, wildlife, recreationists along with providing poor watershed manage- ment. Several of the noxious weeds are poisonous to animals and some to humans. Goodman said This is definitely a step in the right direction and I appreciate the efforts of all that were involved with the process, especially Commissioner Ashman, Commissioner Young, Commissioner Dearden, Kay Frischknecht, Chairman of the State of Utah Rangeland Fund Committee for the Richfield District and Carvel Magleby Six County Executive Director. The Central Utah Project populated areas, the system will enhance the Diamond Fork fishery by providing minimum and Addimaximum stream-flow- s. of water from In addition to delivering tionally, the system will provide 163,000 acre-fethe Uinta Basin to the Bonneville needed municipal, industrial and recreation opportunities and poBasin. A major portion ofthe con irrigation water to Utahs more tential hydroelectric power. larged Strawberry Reservoir to veyance system, the 8 mile-lon- g the Spanish Fork River, and will Diamond Fork Pipeline, will facilitate the annual transbasin have a capacity of approximately diversion of approximately 510 cubic feet per second. et Safety council warns about eye injuries when iump starting car Completion Act authorizes the use of Federal funds to complete the Diamond Fork System with additional by the District. The completed system Many car owners dont know will release flows from the en what their car batteries look like, much less Jkpow how to jump-sta- rt one safely if it fails. Thats why nearly 6,000 Americans lose their sight or suffer serious eye injuries each year, according to Prevent Blindness Utah. People may not know enough about the basic mechanics of a car, says Colleen Malouf, Executive Director. As long as their cars start, motorists often dont worry about the vehicles battery. That can be dangerous. All vehicle batteries contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. Improper g a procedures in disabled car may turn the battery into a bomb. If the gases come into contact with a spark, flame or lighted cigarette, the battery can explode, sending battery fragments and acid flying, notes Miss Malouf. Every year, dead batteries cause millions of cars to fail to start. And because vehicle failures seldom happen at a convenient time or spot, motorists should bone up on basic car mechanics and g procedures before the car battery dies. Prevent Blindness Utah advises car owners to take a few moments to read through their cost-shari- ng jump-startin- iS0ln3SS Ashman and Young have been the catalysis to get this program moving. In addition the Six County Organization, County Commissioners, County Agents, and the State of Utah Advisory Board for Range Funds played an important role in providing the grass roots support of recognizing the problem and the need to Interior and CUP district sign contract to use $69 million in federal funds on project jump-startin- COTlslnteS Wednesday, December 7, 1994 Nephi, Utah os remain safe up to two hours in the cooker with the power off. Message from Margie... temperature je tHi mes-Jfaf- PMS CslS p)E CDdt VJmb TTypsseEEoiD ssEiEs PiMsInlllnlfl car manuals and familiarize calling Prevent Blindness Utah themselves with the basic mechanics! of their cars. And have splash proof safety goggles for eye protection in their cars with jump start cables. Many cars are now equipped with sophisticated computer systems says Miss g Malouf. the car improperly may fry the system. Motorists should also have an emergency plan in mind if their disabled cars battery explodes. Most people panic if battery add splashes into their eye, notes Miss Malouf. The first thing the injured motorist should do is to flush the eye with the first drinkable liquid one can find, such as water, milk, juice or soft drink. Eveiy second counts, because the longer the add sits in the eye, the greater the chances of a serious corneal burn or blindness. When it comes to vehicles, Prevent Blindness Utah advises all motorists to be car smart. Through the winter months, Prevent Blindness Utah is offering a FREE Auto Safety Test. The test helps determine a persons g knowledge of proper BlindPrevent procedures. ness Utah also is offering a jump-stainstruction sticker that can be affixed under the hood. Motorists can obtain both materials by Jump-startin- jump-startin- rt at C - (fibwu) t:. DAM rep v; will be in Nephi to help on December 12th p During the month of December 1994, those seeking assistance, with Department of Veterans Af-- ; fairs (VA) issues may visit with; Mr. F. E. Martinez from the Dis-- ; abled American Veterans. Assistance includes requests' for compensation, pension, medi- - ; cal treatment, VA home loan de-- ! faults, and education. Mr. Martinez will also assist any vet-- 1 eran or widow of a veteran inj answering correspondence or; completing forms from the Vet- -' erans Administration. f The DAV representative will be" in Nephi December 12, 1994, Job Service, 9.00 a.m. to 10 00 a.m. f 1 Follow fire safety tips during winter holidays to reduce risk of fire The winter holidays are a time for celebration and that means more cooking, lots of parties and a risk of fire! Serious dangers exist for you and your family. Follow these fire safety tips to help keep your family and guests safe during the holidays: Holiday Lighting - Be careful when burning candles. Be sure they are kept well away from decorations or other combustible materials. Always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, up high, out of reach of children and never leave children unat- tended in a room with a lit candle. Keep candles away from Christmas trees, wreaths and out of windows. When decorating with lights, be sure to purchase only those labeled by an approved testing laboratory. For outside decorations use only those labeled for outdoor use and still be smoldering if someone f j plug them directly into outdoor disposed of them improperly. should Indoor receptacles. lights Holiday Decorations - When I always be unplugged before leavchoosing a Christmas tree, pull ing home or going to bed. on the needles to test the trees freshness. If the tree is fresh, it Decorate Parties Holiday flame-retardabe hard to pull the needles will or using materials. off. Put the tree in a stand that Avoid using candles as much as will not tip over. Place the tree I possible during parties. Provide well away from heat sources and guests with laige, deep ash trays exits and water it constantly. ; and dispose of ashes into an Make sure all artificial trees empty coffee can with a lid and have a flame retardant label. If allow them to sit for 24 hours you have a fire in your fireplace, before tossing them into the . find an alternate spot for Christ- -' trash. Cigarette smoking is a mas stockings. Choose holiday leading cause of fire fatalities gifts wisely, passing up those and smoking coupled with alco- that are highly flammable. And hol is a deadly combination. Af- dispose of holiday wrapping as ter a party, make a quick check soon as you are finished with inside and under upholstered your gift exchanging, placing furniture and check wastebas- them in a closed metal container kets for cigarette butts that may outdoors. 5 nt non-combusti- ", 5 S |