What is the first item on the food safety checklist?

The first item on the food safety checklist is calibrating the thermometer. This step is crucial because accurate temperature readings are essential for ensuring food safety. The thermometer needs to provide precise measurements to determine if foods are being cooked, held, or stored at safe temperatures. If the thermometer is not calibrated properly, it can lead to undercooked food, which may harbor harmful bacteria, or overcooked food, which can result in loss of quality and flavor.

By ensuring the thermometer is calibrated at the beginning of the food safety checklist, it sets a solid foundation for all subsequent food safety practices. Following this step, checking food temperatures, inspecting food items, and cleaning cooking surfaces become much more effective, as they rely on the accuracy provided by the calibrated thermometer.