Tailgating can be an all-day affair — and when it comes to enjoying the fun, food safety should always be part of the game plan. Follow these simple tips to keep your spread safe, fresh and crowd-pleasing.
Score Big with Wet Wipes
Pack plenty of clean, disposable cloths or moist towelettes, plus paper towels, to clean hands and wipe down surfaces. Washing hands with soap and water is best, but that’s not always easy when tailgating — so bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Keep food safety a priority by always washing your hands before handling service ware and utensils, after handling raw meat, and before touching foods.
Maintain Zone Coverage
The “danger zone” for perishable foods is between 40°F and 140°F. Keep hot foods hot (above 140°F) and cold foods cold (below 40°F). Use insulated coolers with lots of ice packs to transport and store food. Wrap raw meat and poultry securely and store them separately from ready-to-eat foods. And don’t forget to keep dairy favorites like milk, cheese and yogurt cold and on ice so they’re safe and delicious all day!
Warm Up Before the Big Game
Cooking food to the right internal temperature is key — but keeping it hot afterward matters just as much. Bring a slow cooker, chafing dish or warming tray to maintain foods at 140°F or above. Serving queso dip? Keep it hot and use a food thermometer to be sure it stays in the safe zone.
Cool Down After the Feast
Perishable foods should be stored at 40°F or below, and shouldn’t sit out longer than two hours (or one hour if the temperature tops 90°F). For example, keep Greek yogurt dips chilled until you’re ready to serve, then return it to the cooler once everyone’s had a taste. A good rule of thumb: don’t set food out until the crowd is ready to eat.
Click here for more information about tailgating food safety. Then, put your knowledge to work with these game day recipes that will take your tailgate to the next level!
