Don’t Let the Easter Bunny Bring Foodborne Illness in Your Basket
go.ncsu.edu/readext?785658
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Português
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲
So as Easter approaches this Sunday and we all think of our loved traditions, we need to still remember how important our safety is at this time. Whether it is our safety due to coronavirus or food safety related to those wonderful Easter eggs, we need to remember to be safe with all our traditions.
Easter egg coloring is a tradition many families participate in each year. If you are anything like my family, it normally requires any member who has a child (no matter their age) to come together and color eggs. This is a long-standing tradition and children of all ages (including adults) love to participate and make the eggs their own. Coloring however is just a part of the process. Of course, we all know the reason we color the eggs is to hide them. Whether you typically just have an Easter Egg hunt, or you participate in the tradition of the Easter bunny hiding them we still have to think about the eggs themselves.
Eggs come to most of us in cartons that make them look clean and ready to eat. However, with eggs there is always the possibility that Salmonella bacteria might be present. Salmonella is a bacteria that causes foodborne illness and can be found both inside the shell of the egg and on the outside of the shell. For this reason, food safety practices are very important when handling your Easter Eggs. Remember that when you are boiling them to prepare for coloring that you want to make sure to cook them all the way. Also remember that you will want to cool them and place them back in the fridge if not coloring immediately. Eggs can only be a room temperature for a max of 2 hours (total) before they must be discarded for food safety. That pesky bacteria loves to try and grow wherever it can. Also, you need to remember that 2-hour window when it comes to hiding the eggs. If the eggs are at room temperature or above for more than 2 hours, they must be discarded so they don’t make anyone sick. Also remember we live in Florida so sometimes we get hotter, so if the eggs are above 90 degrees they must be discarded after 1 hour. Now all this doesn’t mean that your coloring and hiding traditions are ruined, it just means you may have to change the way you handle your eggs.
Let’s look at a few different options you can choose from:
- You can boil the eggs and color them while keeping within a 1-hour time frame and then use the other 1-hour time frame to hunt and hide your eggs as long as the weather permits (temperature is what allows the bacteria to grow). All the while you still be able to use those wonderful colored eggs for delicious meals later.
- You can boil the eggs and color them while keeping within that 2-hour time frame to keep your food safe and just use the colored eggs for eating or making an egg related dish. For hiding and hunting you can use those plastic ones so you don’t have to think about food safety.
- You can also boil the eggs, color them, hide and hunt them with no time requirements and just throw them away at the end of the day to keep everybody safe.
It doesn’t matter which options you decide to use, just remember to keep your food safe (the eggs) so everyone can have a happy, healthy, fun Easter!
Happy Easter Everyone!