The kitchen will become increasingly busier as we near Christmas and New Year’s, and extra care and attention must be paid to the cleanliness of your cooking space and food. Lisa Peterson, Nutrition and Wellness Educator for the University of Illinois Extension says that salmonella can remain on a non-sanitized surface for 32 hours.

Steps as simple as proper hand washing is the first defense against food-borne illnesses that can end the Christmas fun.

For the oven and other cooking areas, Peterson says it is imperative to keep these areas clean and sanitized, and for those looking to hold their yearly kitchen cleaning, the Extensions resources are here to help.

All of this cleanliness information and more can be found at extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/cleaning-sanitizing-kitchen.

Lisa Peterson appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.