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Nothing’s more fun than a feast, but food poisoning can really ruin a good time. Big food-centered gatherings with family or friends have a few inherent risks that can be alleviated by good planning:
- Refrigerator door is opened more frequently.
- Have a cooler of ice available for guests to use for their beverages.
- For an especially large gathering, consider adding an additional ice chest to cool down leftovers before putting them back into the refrigerator.
- Purchase a refrigerator thermometer and another one for the freezer.
- Food sits out at room temperature.
- Start the meal on time.
- Keep hot dishes covered as much as possible.
- Keep an eye on the clock, and don’t let foods sit out longer than two hours.
- Buy or rent warming trays for hot foods.
- Place cold foods on ice. You could put some foods directly on the ice, or place a serving bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice.
- Many types of food are prepared in the same kitchen areas.
- Use separate preparation areas, cutting boards, and utensils for raw meats and other foods.
- Keep a spray bottle of food-safe cleaner handy along with plenty of paper towels.
- Use rubbing alcohol and hot soapy water to clean the stem of meat thermometers. Choose a meat thermometer that can be safely cleaned in a dishwasher.
- Dishes are brought by friends and need to be kept warm or cold.
- Ask that food be brought in crock-pots or with other warming devices if possible. (Note: You may want to plug these into an electrical outlet that is not on the same circuit as the kitchen.)
- Many different people are working together on meal preparation.
- Try to have paper towels, plastic wraps, aluminum foil, knives, and serving utensils easily accessible and readily available, along with anything else your “guest chefs” may need.
For more tips and information:
Five Golden Rules of Food Safety
A Healthy Fridge
FoodSafety.gov
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