Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips

Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family.

Unfortunately, if we're not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up happily.

Here are some tips to remember when planning an outdoor meal:

1. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria multiply quickly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. Foods that have been kept at unsafe temperatures are a prime source of foodborne illnesses.

2. Plan ahead and try to take foods that don't spoil so quickly. At any rate, don't eat anything that's been sitting out for more than an hour, especially if the temperature is over 80.

3. Try to take only the amount of food that will be eaten, so there will be no leftovers.

4. Pack your food with ice or cold packs in an insulated cooler. Place foods that will be eaten last in the bottom. You can make your own blocks of ice by freezing water in milk cartons or other plastic containers.

Place ice blocks or cold packs between containers of food, never just place containers of food on top of ice.

5. You might want to bring 2 coolers -- 1 for drinks, because it will be opened more often, and 1 for the food, that can be set in the shade and kept closed until needed.

6. If you're planning to cook hamburgers at the picnic site, shape your meat into patties and freeze before putting into the cooler. Take along a meat thermometer to be sure you cook the meat to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.

7. An extra zip-top bag full of ice can be placed in the top of the cooler. The extra ice will come in handy for the trip home. If your day is a long one, and the ice melts the cold water can come in handy, also.

8. Carry your cooler inside your car, instead of in your hot trunk and be sure to place it in a shady spot and maybe even cover it with a blanket when you reach your destination. Open it only when necessary.

9. Instead of bringing whole jars of condiments, pack what you will need into smaller plastic containers.

10. Bring lots of clean utensils for serving as well as eating. Pack pre-moistened towelettes and paper towels for easy cleanup.

11. And remember this rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding leftovers: When in doubt, throw it out!

Cyndi Roberts has been happily married to her best friend for 34 years and is a proud mother of 3. In her newsletter, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" she uses her years of experience as a wife, mother and chief budget officer to help others learn how to "live the good life...on a budget!" To subscribe, visit her online at http://www.cynroberts.com

editor@cynroberts.com

written by: Cyndi Roberts

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home :: Frugal Tips Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family. Unfortunately, if we're not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up happily. Here are some tips to remember when planning an outdoor meal: 1. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria multiply quickly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. Foods that have been kept at unsafe temperatures are a prime source of foodborne illnesses. 2. Plan ahead and try to take foods that don't spoil so quickly. At any rate, don't eat anything that's been sitting out for more than an hour, especially if the temperature is over 80. 3. Try to take only the amount of food that will be eaten, so there will be no leftovers. 4. Pack your food with ice or cold packs in an insulated cooler. Place foods that will be eaten last in the bottom. You can make your own blocks of ice by freezing water in milk cartons or other plastic containers. Place ice blocks or cold packs between containers of food, never just place containers of food on top of ice. 5. You might want to bring 2 coolers -- 1 for drinks, because it will be opened more often, and 1 for the food, that can be set in the shade and kept closed until needed. 6. If you're planning to cook hamburgers at the picnic site, shape your meat into patties and freeze before putting into the cooler. Take along a meat thermometer to be sure you cook the meat to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees. 7. An extra zip-top bag full of ice can be placed in the top of the cooler. The extra ice will come in handy for the trip home. If your day is a long one, and the ice melts the cold water can come in handy, also. 8. Carry your cooler inside your car, instead of in your hot trunk and be sure to place it in a shady spot and maybe even cover it with a blanket when you reach your destination. Open it only when necessary. 9. Instead of bringing whole jars of condiments, pack what you will need into smaller plastic containers. 10. Bring lots of clean utensils for serving as well as eating. Pack pre-moistened towelettes and paper towels for easy cleanup. 11. And remember this rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding leftovers: When in doubt, throw it out! Cyndi Roberts has been happily married to her best friend for 34 years and is a proud mother of 3. In her newsletter, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" she uses her years of experience as a wife, mother and chief budget officer to help others learn how to "live the good life...on a budget!" To subscribe, visit her online at http://www.cynroberts.com editor@cynroberts.com written by: Cyndi Roberts Related Frugal Articles: Frugal Outdoor Cooking Firing up the grill is a great way to cook in the summer! Here are a few grilling tips and a couple of recipes, too. For great grilled burgers, form the patty gently. Smashing the meat forces out moisture. Sear both sides of the... Decorating Frugally The trend these days is to discover extremely innovative ways to decorate interiors on a budget. The tips provided below are just a few of the many ways one can inexpensively achieve a truly original look for a room. Borders on a wall are an... Easy, Frugal Breakfasts! We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And that children that eat breakfast do better in school than those who don't. However, we also all know that it isn't always easy to find time to prepare that all-important meal or... Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups By Kathleen Wilson Most of us spend a good deal of time in our kitchens these days, and it’s not just for cooking. More homes are being built with the kitchen as the hub of the home, and even if you’re on a tight budget,... Easy, Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes Tuna casseroles are one of the most frugal dinners you can make. Most picky kids will eat them, and most picky husbands will too! Whenever you can't think of something for dinner, you can bet you will probably have the ingredients on hand to make... Frugal and Nutritious Summer Snacks Lately, there has been a lot in the news concerning obesity in America. And not just in adults--our children are over-weight, also. It's not surprising, considering the advertising dollars that are spent each year aimed at persuading children... Frugal Cooking With Herbs Herbs are fun to grow and easy to use. Herbs can be a frugal cook's best friend because they can enhance even the simplest fare making it seem grand! Herbs are easy to grow--you can even grow them on your kitchen windowsill. The addition... Frugal, Kid-Friendly Recipes It's always a challenge to come up with meals that are easy, quick to fix and frugal, yet appealing to families, especially children. Here are a couple of recipes that are ideal for summertime lunches or suppers. Children can even help in... 10 Fun & Frugal Beauty Tips I'm ready to unload some the best secrets and tips that even your salon professionals use. Of course they would like for you to buy their products and will tell you they are the best in order to make the sale, but I'm pretty sure they're not being... Gardening--Fun and Frugal! Whether you are an avid vegetable gardener, a beginning herb gardener or just like to have a pretty yard, these frugal tips may help you save a little money! 1. Stale coffee and coffee grounds make great organic fertilizer. They provide many... Related Frugal Links: Gardening Fun and Frugal Frugal Cooking With Herbs Frugal Kid Friendly Recipes Frugal and Nutritious Summer Snacks Easy Frugal Breakfasts Easy Frugal Tuna Casserole Recipes Frugal Outdoor Cooking Frugal Kitchen Spruce Ups Decorating Frugally	[includes/feature-box-2.htm]
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