It is the season for cookouts, picnics, summer parties, and festival food. Whether grilling at home with just the family or bringing a dish to a group potluck in the park, it is important to pay attention to food safety during warmer weather. Follow these simple steps for a safe, healthy summer:
When shopping for groceries or eating outside, make sure to refrigerate foods within 1 hour, if it’s 90 degrees F or warmer (2 hours if it’s less.)
If you are bringing a dish to an event, prepare ahead of time. Divide cooked food into shallow containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer to cool it rapidly.
At potlucks, keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Cold foods should be kept in an insulated cooler packed with several inches of ice, ice packs, or containers of frozen water. Do not over-pack coolers. Replenish ice as needed.
When traveling with foods, keep them out of the hottest part of the car or directly in the sun. Place packed coolers in a shaded area out of the sun.
When grilling, avoid cross-contamination. Use separate utensils, cutting boards, and serving plates when handling raw meats and cooked meats. Do not use any marinades or sauces that have touched raw meat juices on cooked meats.
Cook grilled meats to proper temperatures - https://food.unl.edu/safe-cooking-temperatures
When buying prepared foods at festivals, fairs or carnival stands, buy only from licensed vendors. Washing hands with soap and water is the best choice, but bring hand sanitizers or disposable wipes in case there are no hand-washing stations.
Sources: “CDC and Food Safety: Tips to Keep Food Safe This Summer”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2019; “Keeping Food Safe in the Summer”, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2021; “MyPlate Plan”, United States Department of Agriculture, unknown; “MyPlate Kitchen”, United States Department of Agriculture, unknown.