Stay Food Safe During Cookouts

Contributed by Elisa Marley, Dietitian

Warm weather means BBQ’s and picnics!  While it’s great to get out and enjoy the season…it’s important to keep in mind a few food safety tips so you and your family can avoid foodborne illness.  In the heat, foodborne bacteria multiply very rapidly and food poisoning can become the uninvited guest at your gathering.

It is important to always remember some of the most basic food prep rules:

• Wash hands thoroughly before prepping any food
• Wash fresh produce before consuming
• Always use clean utensils and cutting boards
• Keep raw meat separated from cooked meats and foods to avoid cross contamination
• Be sure to cook meat thoroughly on the grill and check internal temperatures to avoid serving anything undercooked.
  • Ground beef – 160 degrees.
  • Chicken – 165 degrees.
  • Hot Dogs/sausages – 165 degrees.
  • Steaks or ribs – 145 degrees, allow to rest for 3 minutes.
  • Fish or shellfish – 145 degrees.
• Marinate foods in the refrigerator, not the countertop or outside near the grill
• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Cold is less than 40 degrees and hot is greater than 140 degrees

Now that we reviewed the basics, let’s talk about putting all the delicious food out for guests to enjoy.  Since cookouts are usually informal, often guests will arrive at various times and look to eat at various times because they may be playing yard games, swimming, or busy socializing.  This results in food being left out for extended periods of time, often in very warm temperatures. As a host it can be difficult to know what is safe to keep out and what should go back in the refrigerator quickly.  Here are some guidelines to help you avoid trouble:

• Do not leave food out for longer than 2 hours. If it is 90 degrees or hotter outside, that should be reduced to only 1 hour.
• Pasta and potato salads should be kept cold until they are served. Many believe it is because of the mayonnaise, but that is a myth.  It is actually the other ingredients such as the pasta, potatoes, eggs, and other foods that produce harmful bacteria at a rapid rate.
• Condiments, INCLUDING mayonnaise, can be left out for guests to use. The condiments are slightly acidic making it safer for those to be left out than other food items.
• Breads, chips, and pretzels are also safe to be left out for guests to pick on, but should be covered for freshness and to keep bugs off.

Enjoy your outdoor entertaining, but please be sure to be food safe so that your guests leave with full and happy tummies!

Download the Stay Food Safe During Cookouts Infographic: