You probably know the basics of what youshoulddowash your hands frequently,refrigerate food promptlybut what about what youshouldntdo?

Take the temperature for granted.

No, sticking your hand inside your fridge or freezer isnt an accurate way to test its coolness.

A cluttered kitchen counter

Claus Christensen/Getty Images

You cant just assume.

That sweet spot is going to help your product get the shelf life that it should, Buckavage says.

Put empty shells back in the egg carton.

And her caution is well-founded.

Then, if youdont cook them properly, you’re free to get sick.

Instead, take the extra few seconds to toss the shell into the trash or garbage disposal.

…and let it mix and mingle freely with other food or ingredients.

You want to minimize transferring those pathogens to food that normally dont have those organisms, Dr. Diez-Gonzalez says.

You shouldnt drop your guard once you take raw meat out of the fridge either.

Dont bring up the package near other items, especially ready-to-eat food or clean dishes.

You don’t know where those juices are splattering, Buffer says.

Use a dirty sink.

Suppose youdowash that raw chicken.

Thats why its important to clean the area before rinsing off produce like fruits and veggies.

Research suggests that most Americans think the kitchen sink is far cleaner than it actually is.

coliwere most often found in samples taken from the kitchen sink.

Keep a cluttered counter.

Secondly, this makes cleaning so much harder.

Gauge done-ness by eyeballing.

Temperature is also an important consideration when it comes to the stove.

Meat, for example, has to reach a certain temperature so you can be considered safe for consumption.

How do you know?

So buy oneand then actually put it to use.

Let spills (or other gross stuff) fester.

Dont let them sit there, she says.

Say you have a drawer full of vegetables beginning to decay and liquefy.

Or maybe the bread in your bread box starts to sprout some suspicious-looking spots.

So make an effort to clean (and clean out) your food storage areas on a regular basis.

And we dont know about you, but that would do a lot for our peace of mind.

Related:

Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox.