To keep stored food safe, which of the following should you avoid?

To keep stored food safe, it's essential to avoid leaving raw or cooked food uncovered. When food is left uncovered, it becomes vulnerable to contamination from airborne pathogens, dust, and allergens. This increases the risk of foodborne illnesses and spoilage. Properly covering food helps to maintain its safety, freshness, and quality.

In addition, keeping food covered minimizes the likelihood of cross-contamination from raw foods to cooked foods. For instance, if raw meat is left uncovered, any splashes or drips can contaminate other items in the refrigerator or on the kitchen surfaces.

Labeling food with a "sell by" date is a crucial practice for managing food freshness and safety, while storing thawing meat on the bottom shelf reduces the risk of drips contaminating other foods. Placing food directly on the floor can introduce additional hazards, but being uncovered primarily exposes food to risks associated with contamination and spoilage.