If you’re going out for a picnic with the family, or simply for an outdoor meal anywhere away from the home, it’s important to make sure that safety is kept as a number one priority. You don’t have all the tools and amenities at home to help you prepare meals as normal and you don’t have as much control over the environment, so it’s important to make sure that you’re ready to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Ensure everything is fully cooked
Food poisoning is the biggest risk when it comes to eating outdoors, usually because outdoor cooking methods require a little more precision than you’re usually used to, or because you’re transporting food that’s pre-cooked to a second location. For that reason, make sure you use a meat thermometer after cooking any meat to ensure that it is thoroughly and completely cooked. Now is not the right time to go serving rare steaks. Be on the safe side.
Make hygiene a priority
A lot of us have become a lot more hygiene conscious over the past year and a half for obvious reasons, but you should still make sure that you’re trying extra hard to stay hygienic when you’re eating out of the home. Make sure that you wash your hands regularly, preferably with some hand sanitizer kept by the picnic area or eating area at all times. Keep the rules of food contamination in mind and keep them stored away from each other until they’re being served on the same plate.
Keep it cool
When it comes to fresh and perishable foods, cooking it isn’t the only way to make it as fresh and safe as possible. Instead, you should bring a travel cooler with you. It’s better to keep it in the car so that insects can’t get around and in it, as well.
Prepare for little accidents
If you’re serving food with knives or any other cutlery, or you’re cooking food on the spots, then you should make sure that you’re ready for any accidents. Keep a first aid kit on hand with the right wound care supplies and make sure at least one person there knows what to do if there’s a cut or burn. The sooner you can get into action and care for it, the lesser the chance of it developing into something more complex.
Get ready for the great outdoors
You’re outside, so you should make sure that you’re protected against all the risks that come with spending a lot of time in the great outdoors. The sun is the biggest risk of them all, so make sure that you pack a high SPF sunscreen to keep everyone’s skin protected. Don’t forget some bug repellent but avoid using it around the food as best as possible.
You shouldn’t be afraid to have an outdoor eating expedition with the family. Picnics, camping BBQs, and other outdoor meals can be a lot of fun. Just make sure you’re ready so that accidents and safety mistakes don’t spoil that fun.
And now, here are some fun and delicious Picnic Recipes to get you started!
5-Ingredient Kid-Friendly Potato Patties
Cucumber & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping
Best Chocolate Chunk Cookies You Ever Had
