A barbecue is a great way to spend a summer afternoon and you are lucky that your Sherman Oaks apartment has a sparkling pool, lush landscaping, and a picnic area to enjoy with barbecue grills.  But before your summer barbecue becomes a digestive disaster, check out these food safety tips.
 

1. This one may seem obvious, but be sure to check the dates and the condition of the packaging on the meat you are going to serve.
2. Marinating and food preparation.  Marinating meats is a great way to ensure a tasty meal and you can marinate it for up to two days, but if you want to use the marinate to baste, it is best that you keep some to the side for that purpose.
3. Before you start cooking, make sure the grill is cleaned and heated before placing food on the grill.
4. Make sure that food is cool or cold before serving and keep food separate before and during the cooking process. 
5. Food cooks at different speeds, you can create cooking zones for the different foods, but be sure to keep chicken and other meats separate from veggies that may not require the same amount of cooking time and if you cook different foods on the same areas of the grill, clean them in between.
6. Be sure to thoroughly clean dishes that contained raw meat or use different plates.  Never put cooked meat on a plate or platter that had uncooked meat.  Same with utensils.
7. Make sure food is cooked to the proper temperature by using a meat thermometer.
8. Keep sides and and meats at the right temperature. Try to wait until it is time to eat before bringing out salads and cover food to keep it cool or warm.
9. Don't let your food stay outside too long.  Experts say you should never let food sit out for more than an hour.  One idea is to fill a large bucket up with ice and place cold side dishes in tubs or bowls in the ice to help it stay cooler and safe longer.
10. Be sure to clean the grill once the food is off and while it is still hot.  Wipe it down again after.

Follow these food safety tips and enjoy an outdoor barbecue at your Sherman Oaks apartment.