by Danielle Maguire, RDN, Nutrition Program Director

As we get ready to welcome summer with backyard barbecues, picnics, and gatherings with friends and family, it’s important to keep food safety in mind. While food safety is important year-round, warmer summer temperatures can increase the risk of foodborne illness if foods are not handled, cooked, or stored properly. By following a few simple food safety practices, you can help ensure your summer celebrations are both enjoyable and safe for everyone.

Follow the Four Basic Steps of Food Safety
Follow these safety steps throughout the cooking process – while you’re prepping, cooking, serving, and storing.

Clean: Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and water. If running water is not available, bring hand sanitizer. Use clean utensils including knives and tongs, and clean countertops, cutting board, etc.

Separate: Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat and poultry separate from cooked foods or other ready-to-eat foods. This includes keeping your cooking tools clean – if you can’t wash platters or tongs at your picnic, bring two sets.

Cook: Keep a food thermometer handy! Cook foods to a safe minimum internal temperature. This ensures any harmful bacteria in food has been killed before you eat it.

Chill: Perishable foods should remain cold until use in your refrigerator or freezer. Best practices to thaw foods are thawing in the refrigerator, in cool water, or in the microwave. If you’re packing a cooler of food, rule of thumb is to pack a cooler by reserving one quarter for ice or ice packs. Chill or freeze foods and beverages before packing them in the cooler. It’d also be a good idea to pack raw meats in sealed containers at the bottom of the cooler to prevent juices from contaminating other items.

Avoid the Danger Zone
Bacteria grows rapidly between the temperatures of 40°F and 140°F. It’s important to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Throw away perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and throw away after 1 hour if the temperature is over 90°F, such as on a hot summer day, or left in a hot car. Keep a close eye on items containing egg, potato, and tuna salads made with mayonnaise or other dairy base.

Safe Grilling Practices
Once food has been cooked to the proper internal temperature, it should be kept hot until it’s served. Move cooked foods to the side of the grill rack, away from direct heat, to keep them warm while preventing overcooking. When cleaning your grill, avoid using wire-bristle grill brushes. Bristles can break off and become lodged in food, posing a serious health risk if swallowed. Because they are often difficult to see and remove, consider using a safer alternative, such as a nylon brush, grill stone, or scraper designed for grill cleaning.

Picnic Preparation Matters
A successful picnic starts with good planning. Before heading outdoors, make sure you have a plan to keep your cooking tools clean and maintain proper safe food temperatures. Taking a few simple precautions can help protect your family and friends from foodborne illness and ensure your gathering is remembered for the fun – not an unexpected stomachache!