Freeze the miso, rinse the chicken? Test your food safety knowledge

Worried about using bagged lettuce, or that you're too blase about cooking chicken? Give your food safety knowledge a little work-out with these nine true-or-false questions.

While you're at it, consider a fridge clean-out. The US government has launched a new FoodKeeper app, with mobile accessibility. Consult it as you clean or hold off on that just long enough to test your knowledge on the topic.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

- Those hairy carrots are fine to eat, although it might be better to peel them rather than just scrub as we typically do.

- Limp lettuce can be revived with a soak in icy cold water.

- Turn that mangle of tired-looking parsley and other herbs into pesto.

Food safety quiz

Answer true or false to the questions below, and then scroll down to see how well you did.

Questions:

1. Once opened, jarred horseradish can be refrigerated for 12 months.

2. Miso can be frozen.

3. Frozen shrimp is good for up to 18 months.

4. It's good/OK to rinse raw meat, poultry and eggs.

5. Washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water eliminates germs.

6. Washing produce with soap or detergent eliminates germs.

7. Pre-cut, pre-washed packaged greens are safe to eat if they are held above 4 degrees Celsius for more than two hours.

8. Processed cheeses are safe to eat if they are held above 4 degrees Celsius for more than two hours.

9. It's best to "decant" store-bought eggs and store them on the refrigerator door.

Answers:

1. False. It can be refrigerated for three to four months.

2. False. But it can be refrigerated for up to one year.

3. True. 12 to 18 months, max (for freshness and best quality).

4. False. Rinsing can spread bacteria to your sink, countertops and other kitchen surfaces.

5. True. So wash up before you handle any raw or cooked foods.

6. False. Just clean running water will do; soaps can linger on foods and may not be safe for consumption.

7. False. Bacteria can grow in those conditions.

8. False.

9. False. Keep them in their original cartons, and store them in the main refrigerator compartment where the temperature remains more constant.

The Washington Post