No, I’m not going to give you a rundown on what low fat foods you should pack for your next picnic (you can click here for that). This blog gives tips on how to pack a cooler properly so you can avoid getting food poisoning. Take it from me; nothing dampers a summer picnic faster than a bad case of the runs.
So we’ve established that picnics are no fun when they cause illness and you likely know that warm weather combined with a lack of refrigeration can increase your chance of getting a food borne illness. But how can you protect yourself and your family?
First, you should be aware that some foods cause a greater risk for food poisoning than others. For example, foods high in protein offer the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. That means soft cheeses; raw sausages and burgers have the highest risk. And remember, just because the meats and cheeses are disguised in a salad (such as pasta salad) doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.
While we’re at it let’s bust that myth about mayonnaise and picnics. Research shows mayonnaise, a high acid food, can actually halt bacterial growth. So that old wives’ tale that mayonnaise alone causes food poisoning is false. What increases your risk of food poisoning is combining high protein foods with mayonnaise like egg salad or chicken salad.
If you are looking for the safest foods to take on a picnic stick to items such as fruits, vegetables, hard cheese, dessert bars and water.
Now that we know some of the things to add to our cooler what is the best way to pack it?
Here are tips that have served me well over the years:
· Choose a well-insulated cooler. If it’s possible you should use one cooler for beverages and one for food items since you will inevitably be opening the beverage cooler more often.
· You want to keep food items as cold as possible so it’s important to pack the cooler in the reverse order that items will be used. This helps minimize the amount of time the cooler is open.
· Use Blue ice or other ice packs rather than ice cubes—they last longer.
· Keep the cooler in the shade.
· If your picnic lasts longer than four hours don’t keep any leftover food.
· It’s important to layer your cooler properly. Begin with sturdy fruits (watermelon) or desserts that require refrigeration. Next, layer veggies and salads (potato salad, pasta salad, vegetable salad, etc.). Then pack the main entrée such as sandwiches, hotdogs, and burgers (make sure you wrap these well). Finally, put in the appetizers, snacks and any other food items that will be eaten first.
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