6 Tips to a Safe and Fun Picnic this Summer

I love picnics. Although I have to admit, I don’t go on picnics as much as I’d really love to.

Picnics are a terrific way to relax and enjoy the warm summer weather.

Summer picnics are social occasions that date back to the Victorian Era as opportunities for people to socialize, enjoy the outdoors and eat elaborate meals including meats, cheeses, sandwiches, fruit and pies. Nowadays, picnics are a much more laid back and relaxing social gathering in which we relax on a blanket in the park and pack along simple foods like salads, sandwiches, fresh fruits and vegetables and a variety of snacks and finger foods.

Though picnics are a great way to have some family outdoor fun, it is very important to keep food safety in mind when planning your picnic outing. Things can go wrong very quickly if you don’t follow the right food safety precautions.

Here are some basic food safety guidelines to follow the next time you plan a relaxing picnic in the park:

1. Always pre-plan what foods you are going to be bringing on your picnic and create a check list of items you will need to bring along with you. Examples include a decent size cooler with ice, food thermometer, grills, clean utensils, storage containers for leftovers, paper towels, trash bags, and lots and lots of cold water to stay hydrated!

2. If you are bringing meat on your picnic to grill, DO NOT thaw it on the counter before heading out. Meat should either be defrosted in the refrigerator or cooked from its frozen state. Other perishable items such macaroni and potato salad, deviled eggs, hot dogs, burgers, poultry and other raw meat should always be kept wrapped in a well-insulated cooler. To be safe, have a separate cooler for raw meat and keep them away from ready to eat foods like salads or fresh fruit. Also, have different plates and utensils for raw meat and cooked meat to avoid cross contamination.

3. At a picnic site, you may not have access to running water. If you do, always wash your hands before and after preparing food. If not, be prepared by bringing sanitizing wipes or liquid hand sanitizer to keep hands clean.

4. Food should be served quickly after it is prepared. In the summer heat, it is dangerous to leave food out in the sun for too long, since bacterial growth is higher at warmer temperatures. Both cold and hot foods should not be left out for more than an hour to prevent foodborne illness. Find a spot that has some shade so you can keep the cooler and other food out of the sun. If food is leftover, immediately put it into storage containers and back into the cooler. Unpack as soon as you get home and put leftover foods right into the refrigerator or freezer.

5. Portion finger foods such as cut up melon and chips and salsa onto individual plates to avoid too many hands digging into the bowl or bag.

6. To avoid having to bring too many coolers to keep foods cold, choose foods that are not temperature sensitive such as peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts, crackers or unopened cans of fruit or fish.

This is the perfect time of year to start enjoying picnics with the family. Use these tips to make all of your summer picnics safe and enjoyable for the whole family!

Your turn to take action: What steps will you take to ensure that your next picnic is a success?