Picnics can be a fun time with family and friends. They can also be a chore - trying to find recipes that will travel well and safely, remembering all of the equipment you’ll need, and packing up the food.
Food safety can be an issue when transporting food away from home. One concern usually centers around the use of mayonnaise in foods that are not kept refrigerated. Our grandparents made their own mayonnaise using raw eggs. Now that mayo is made commercially, it’s not as problematic. Mayonnaise is also made with vinegar which is an acid that inhibits bacteria growth.
One of the best ways to assure food safety is to keep hot food hot, cold food cold and refrigerate it before that changes. There are some more food safety tips in this month’s FYI.
To help make your next picnic all fun and no frustration, here are some basic essentials to include in your picnic basket:
- blankets, towels or other ground cloths
- eating utensils, plates, cups, bowls, napkins
- serving utensils
- paper towels (use the ice water in the cooler to moisten for messy clean-up)
- can/bottle opener
- corkscrew
- salt & pepper
- condiments
- plastic zipper bags for leftovers
- trash bags for clean-up
- water/beverages/ice
- sun screen
- bug repellant
Whether you picnic in a park or your own backyard, it can be a memorable time with family and friends.
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