What Kind Of Street Food Is Safe?

Wellness

oi-Anwesha

By Anwesha Barari

Monday, November 21, 2011, 14:15

The thing with street food is that it is very difficult to resist unless you distinctly snooty! Off the roads food may not have visual appeal but it has the ability to enchant your sense of smell. If a vendor is frying crispy cutlets then you will be able to catch the aroma from a mile away! Half of your taste is presumed by the mind and therefore it is this kind of food that sells out like hot cakes. The pertinent question to ask here is, is such food safe to eat?

Here are certain conditions under which street food can be considered safe if not healthy; these eating out tips will help you eat healthy outside home.

When Is It Safe To Eat Street Food?

• First of all you have to ask the question for whom is this kind of food safe. If you are talking about a 60 year old man then it is definitely not good to have any kind of food off the roads. But for a 20 year old the leverage is much more. Again for a baby the criteria becomes strict.

• Food temperature makes a huge difference to its safety and food value. If the food is pipping hot then it is probably safe to eat. If the food looks cold then it is probably not that great a chance to take.
  

• When the food is hot, that means the microorganisms which were there in it have been killed by the heat of cooking. You cannot be sure of this point while eating cold cuts.

• The important point to note here is that high food temperature can be duplicated by reheating too. So you have to know if the food is freshly prepared or reheated.
  

• It is always better to eat food that is just made than heated over and over again because if you do the latter then there is always a chance of the food getting spoiled.

• Safety of food also depends on your visual appeal. How is the place where you are eating? It may not be chic but it has to have a minimum hygiene level; cannot really be next to a lavatory. Can see the cook cooking the food in front of your eyes? That is huge psychological boost.

• Cooked street food is always better than raw ones. This is because if you are having salads then you do not know in what water these vegetables or fruits are being washed. But when it is cooked, there is the element of the heat making the food safe.

• While eating meat you must always see to it that the meat is being cooked very well over flame. You cannot be sure of the quality of meat but the cooking is important. A sheek kebab is relatively safer than a cold sandwich.

Follow these good heath tips while eating street food.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.