Safe Memorial Day Barbecues

This weekend, people all across the United States celebrate Memorial Day with outdoor picnics and parties. As you get ready to fire up the grill, keep your al fresco feast safe and fun with these "grillertaining" guidelines:

• Before you fuel the fire or rake the coals, make sure your grill is clean by scrubbing it with hot, soapy water before each and every use.
• Always marinate meat in the refrigerator and bring leftover sauces to a boil before reusing them on cooked meats to prevent cross-contamination.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure internal temperatures are at least 145 degrees F for steak, 160 degrees F for hamburgers and 170 degrees F for chicken.
• Perishable items need to be put back in the refrigerator -- set to 40 degrees F -- after no more than two hours. If it's 90 degrees or above outside, make it one hour.
• Always wash your hands before, during and after grilling.

For more grilling safety tips, visit www.homefoodsafety.org.