Gavin is cooking a chicken and vegetable meal. What is the next step after washing his hands and the counter surface?

After washing his hands and the counter, Gavin should prevent cross-contamination while preparing the ingredients. He should use separate cutting boards for raw chicken and vegetables so bacteria from the raw meat do not transfer to food that may be eaten without further cooking. Refrigerating the meal and checking the meat’s temperature happen later, and gloves or a hair bonnet are not the next essential food-safety step here.

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