Summertime fun often includes outdoor dining with family and friends. Get ready for long afternoons and late evenings of camaraderie, icy beverages, and delicious victuals.
When the festivities are over, we often hear questions about what to do with leftovers and are they safe to consume?
We are happy to tell you if you follow these simple guidelines, yes. Simply, yes.
Foodborne illnesses follow when foods are abused by time and temperature. Guidelines are available to assure your and your guest’s health and safety. Here, we offer an easy-to-follow checklist of do’s to keep you’re your foods safe.
Picnic Safety Tips:
Use crushed ice in plastic bins to set your party cold items. Crushed ice when it’s packed tightly around or under your trays and bowls last longer than loose ice cubes.
DIY Ice Chests
Place a cardboard box in a plastic bag and another one inside folded up over the edges of the box wrap the whole thing in decorative colored plastic table cloth or a linen one filled with crushed ice and display all your chilled party foods.
Cover Your Food
Indoor or out there are always bugs and airborne contaminants. Purchase food nets or simply use a fully opened napkin. On windy days place a weighted party favor on top of a napkin.
Utensils
Serving utensils should remain in the product they were designated for as long as the handles are not able to touch food thus keeping the utensil at the same temperature as the food and free from cross-contamination.
The Party Is Over
Serving utensils should remain in the product they were designated for as long as the handles are not able to touch food thus keeping the utensil at the same temperature as the food and free from cross-contamination.
Reheating Of Foods
Be sure to heat all foods to an internal temperature of 165 degrees minimum only heat what you eat. Do not save reheated foods to reheat later. Heat it one time and throw away non-eaten portions.
Creative Leftovers
Try utilizing leftover party foods like appetizers, and add them to soup, chili, Stir fry, and casseroles.
Fried Chicken
Sauté onions and pepper deglaze with white or red wine optional. Add tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes Italian herbs and spices pour over fried chicken and bake heat to 165 degrees internal temperature and enjoy some fried chicken cacciatore.
Mashed Potatoes
Blend flour and eggs with mashed potatoes season with many spices and herbs imaginable add some cheese if you want even chopped up cooked veggies. Form into little cakes fry, air fry, or bake for tasty little snacks.
Burgers
Burger Mac is a quick easy meal and good use of Sunday BBQ leftovers. Chop, cube, or crumb your leftover burgers or cheeseburgers. Blend with mac n’ cheese or make your sauce BBQ, brown gravy, ketchup, and mustard ECT. Spoon over butter egg noodles or any kind of macaroni.
We take every precaution to assure food wholesomeness. Whether it is in a home or at a picnic grove, best practices are strictly followed so everyone enjoys!
Let us know your wonderful stories about how you utilized leftovers. We are always happy to share.
