How to Keep Mayonnaise Based Foods Safe and Cool

Mayonnaise based salads and hot weather go together like beaches and swimming - or like salmonella and food poisoning, depending on how you look at it. If you love having potato salad and macaroni salad at outdoor picnics in the summer, it's really important that you keep these foods safe. The safety rule for mayo is that it can sit out at room temperature for up to two hours, but it's best to not let mayonnaise based foods get to room temperature at all.

Use a cooler. The two hour safety zone of mayonnaise includes the transport time, so if you're bringing a salad to a picnic, make it the last thing you pack in the car. Don't let the salad sit out on the counter or table while you're getting everything together, and don't bring it to the party on your lap. (If you're afraid you're going to forget something, it's best to make a checklist.)

Keep it on ice. Place a bowl of mayonnaise based salad in a larger bowl that's about half full with ice. The ice should ideally go up the sides of the salad bowl stopping right before the brim. If you have a set of nested bowls, don't use the 'next' bigger size, go up two sizes.

You can bring a bag of ice and a bowl with you, or just bring a bowl of ice with a lid on it. It's not critical that you keep the ice in a cooler. When the ice starts to melt the water actually acts to conduct the cold.

Make your own ice rack or "ice box". This is easier than you think. Start by envisioning a salad bar and how the containers are sitting in ice. Using 2X4's, make a square or rectangular "box" that has no bottom. Be sure that the box will fit on an average sized table. (I would say approximately 24 inches wide.)

You'll also want to consider whether you'll be using it only at home or if your be bringing it places. If you're only going to use it at home it can be as long as you want. If you'll need to transport it, make sure it fits in the car. If you're making it to bring places, use hinges instead of nails to hold it together in three corners (alternating the hinges on the inside and outside), and a hook and eye type closure in the fourth corner. That way you can collapse it for travel and quickly reassemble it when you get there.

Once you have your "ice box" on the table, line it with waterproof material. Depending on the size of your "ice box", use a tarp, a vinyl table cloth, the plastic used to weather-proof picture windows, or a clear garbage bag.

Use a low-walled bin as an "ice box". If making your own ice rack or "ice box" seems like a drag, try using one of those bins that are designed to store wrapping paper. They're the perfect size to put on a table- not too wide and not too high. Fill the bin about half-way with ice, and place bowls of mayonnaise based salads in the ice by twisting them down.

It's very important to keep mayonnaise safe, especially in the heat of summer. By following these tips you'll be able to keep mayonnaise based foods cool and safe during hot weather.