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Picnic tips

June 5, 2014 at 6:26AM

PICNIC TIPS

• Keep cold foods cold, at 40 degrees or colder.

• Keep hot foods hot, at 140 degrees or warmer.

• Limit advance prep to only one day before use.

• Pack coolers immediately before you leave home. Be sure that foods and drinks are already well chilled, especially if it will be a while before you eat. Surround them with plenty of ice and frozen gel packs.

• Fruit that has been cut up, such as cantaloupe and watermelon, should be kept cold.

• Keep all mayonnaise-based foods cold; leave homemade mayo at home (raw eggs are too dicey in the sun).

• Picnic leftovers that have sat out for more than two hours and have been handled are best tossed rather than saved.

• Pack food that doesn't need refrigeration in a large paper bag, which can then be used to bring home dirty containers.

• Fill plastic bags with ice to help keep food cold; this also allows you to use the ice in drinks.

• Fill a container with paper towels, napkins, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils (nondisposable items are even better), along with salt and pepper, and keep it in your car for spontaneous picnics. Also have a stash of hand cleaners (such as baby wipes) for post-picnic.