Enjoy a Stress Free Picnic, Outdoor Event, or Party by Following These Simple Food Safety and Sanitation Tips

When planning an outdoor event that involves food, many people are unaware of the proper safety and sanitation each individual food item requires. Yes, it is important to cover all of your food and cook meat to its proper temperature, but food safety and sanitation at picnics and outdoor events goes far beyond those aspects. Below are a few food safety and sanitation tips designed to help keep you and your food as safe as possible when dining outside.

1. First, after grilling various items, check them to make sure that there is no charcoal residue on the individual items. If so, scrape all charred areas off. Also when grilling, make sure your meats are cooked to proper temperatures (160 degrees for beef, 180 degrees for poultry) on each side for at least three minutes. Also, you will want to use an outdoor thermometer to check the core of the meat and make sure it registers that temperature for two minutes. Leftover meat that is not immediately consumed should be immediately packaged and refrigerated. Afterwards, when your grill cools, clean it with a brush, sponge and anti-bacterial dish detergent solution to thoroughly remove any of the previous cooking's residue. Dispose of the sponge, or soak it in a solution made of bleach and water if you are planning on using it again.

2. Next, for cold side dishes, keeping them cold and at a temperature equivalent to refrigeration is of the utmost importance. To keep perishable dishes cool, have a large container of ice (a large casserole dish works great) and place the dish with the cold food item in it on top of the larger dish filled with ice. Never serve cold items that contain dairy or egg products warm, unless the recipe calls for you to do so. When in doubt, do not serve the dish at all, as it is easier to lose a few dollars than put everyone's health at risk.

3. In addition, make sure you cover all food that is not in use to keep it protected from bugs and help maintain the food's proper temperature. To further help with food's safety and sanitation, use citronella or other insect repelling candles while dining to help lower your chances of having a bug invasion at the serving table. Likewise, it is also most important to clean up the area from any food debris, both on the table and below the table to keep bugs (especially ants) away.

4. Last, but most important, do not feed chicken bones or other small bones to your pet. If you would like to share your feast with your four legged friend, remove the meat from the bone and feet the meat only to your pet. A good rule of thumb when feeding meat to dogs is to only feed the animals what you, yourself would want in your stomach. While dogs do like some bones, consult with your veterinarian to see which kinds of bones are appropriate for your pet.

By following these food safety and sanitation tips, everyone who participates in your picnic or party will leave healthy and happy; having enjoyed a great, outdoor meal.