Handling Meat is First Priority in Food Safety

If left exposed, raw meat can harbor harmful microorganizams like Escherichia coli, more popularly known as E.coli, along with Salmonella and Staphylococcus Aureus or staph. Those with compromised immune systems are especially susceptible to the illnesses caused by these bacteria with the most severe cases possibly resulting in death.
Don't make a habit out of defrosting meats in the sink or on countertops. Instead, just bring it out of the freezer, but still keep it in the refrigerator. Bacteria multiplies rapidly in temperatures above 40 degrees F.
Don't mix raw meats with food items that are meant to be eaten raw. To prevent meat juices from contaminating other foods by dripping on them, keep them at the lowest refrigerator shelf when thawing them out. Also, use sealed containers or freezer bags to keep everything safe.
Before preparing raw meats and before you handle anything else afterwards, you should make it a habit to wash your hands with soap and water. Do it thoroughly and pay special attention to the little crevices and the space under your fingernails.
Devote a separate set of knives and cutting boards and use them exclusively for preparing raw meats. Wash and disinfect them thoroughly before and after each use. Stop using a cutting board as soon as you notice deep cuts wherein bacteria could hide.

Wash and sanitize everything that touches your food. The sink and countertops can be cleaned using hot, soapy water. A good, inexpensive cleaning solution can be made by mixing a tablespoon of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water. This solution has literally hundreds of uses in and around your kitchen.
Cooked meat should be checked with a meat thermometer. Bacteria die at around 165 degrees F and the inside of a roast should reach that crucial temperature. You can also inspect visually in the absence of a thermometer by slicing the meat and taking note of the juices that run out. If it is bloody, you should keep the oven going a little while longer.

You should only touch cooked meat with clean utensils or you just undermined all your prior efforts. With this primer on food safety, you can rest assured that your family will enjoy a safe, succulent dinner.
A sure way of ensuring that your food is cooked properly is by using crock pots as the long cooking time ensures that everything is done perfectly. There are hundreds of different recipes that you can find from bread crock pot recipes to a delicious beef stew crock pot recipe.