If you've ever had a case of food poisoning, you'll know why it's so important to keep cooking surfaces clean and to properly wash your food. Every step you can take to minimize the spread of bacteria and viruses is well worth it. All You Magazine has 7 steps for germ-free cooking:

• Use separate cutting boards. Use one cutting board for meats and another for fruit, vegetables, and anything else. Avoid wooden cutting boards as they can trap bacteria. Be sure to clean your cutting boards thoroughly after each use.
• Scrub fruits and veggies. Even if it says pre-washed, take the time to scrub fruits and vegetables off. A good scrub will help remove traces of pesticides (if you don't buy organic) and any other residue on the produce. It's even a good idea to wash fruits that you peel (bananas, oranges, etc.) to avoid transfer of pesticides or bacteria.

• Choose inner leaves. Discard the outer leaves of lettuce and other greens. Choose the inner leaves that aren't as exposed to bacteria and other residue. Still give the leaves a good washing.
  
• Don't lick the spoon. When preparing cake batter, brownies, or other baked goods, don't let the kids lick the spoon -- raw eggs can harbor bacteria.
• Chill foods properly. Foods that contain mayo or other products that are prone to spoil must be properly chilled. Serve foods like these within two hours.
• Turn down the temperature. If you're going to be in and out of your fridge a lot (e.g. when you're hosting a party), turn down the temperature in your fridge so the food stays properly chilled even though you're letting in heat more often.
• Store leftovers quickly. Refrigerate leftovers within 90 minutes.