Tesco issues message to customers who regularly buy sausages

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Tesco, the supermarket behemoth, has provided advice on the correct procedures for cooking, defrosting and safely storing meat, with a particular emphasis on sausages. The retailer highlighted that certain meats, including sausages, chicken, turkey, game, duck, pork, mince, and rolled or boned joints, necessitate thorough cooking. Sausages - one of the country's favourite meat products - must be cooked "until piping hot throughout, with no pink colour in the centre". Read more: New clues in missing Blues fan search The supermarket added: "If you have a temperature probe, check the centre of the meat has reached 70C for at least two minutes (or 75C for at least 30 seconds)." Conversely, other meats such as steaks, whole cuts of lamb, and venison can be cooked and eaten rare, as harmful bacteria causing food poisoning are only present on the exterior of these cuts. It's crucial to note that pregnant women should ensure all meat is thoroughly cooked due to the risk of toxoplasmosis. Frozen sausages must be completely defrosted before cooking, reports the Express . Tesco advised: "Defrost in the fridge overnight, or if you're going to cook it straight away, you can defrost using the microwave. It's best not to use running water to avoid spreading germs around." The chain also imparted another essential tip, cautioning customers against washing sausages. This happens because water can splash onto surfaces, spreading bacteria that might cause food poisoning. The supermarket explained: "We may have read in cookbooks or been told by our grandmother to wash poultry or meat before preparing it but in fact this is one of the worst things you can do. Just small numbers of Campylobacter, and other food poisoning bacteria, such as Salmonella and E.coli O157, found in fresh poultry and other raw meat can cause serious infections." Tesco advised always keeping raw sausages in sealed containers at the bottom of the fridge, "to stop juices dripping onto other ready-to-eat foods". They also recommended wiping down surfaces before and after food preparation and using different chopping boards and utensils for raw sausages, meat, and other ready-to-eat foods. Once sausages are cooked, they suggested washing all utensils properly with hot water and washing-up liquid or placing them in the dishwasher, and washing your hands thoroughly. They also advised throwing away any meat packaging carefully and washing your hands afterwards.