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Tailgating Food Safety Follow this food safety game plan for a winning tailgate!
It is time for football, and that means it is tailgating time! Follow these simple food safety tips to make sure that your tailgating event is always a Winner!
Wash your hands often
• Wash hands before, during and after preparing food.
• Bring wipes, hand sanitizer, or soap and water to keep hands and surfaces clean.
Prep your food properly
• Always defrost meats at home in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water - never at the tailgate.
• Marinate meat in the refrigerator and don't reuse the marinade unless it has been boiled.
Separate the raw from the ready-to-eat
• Place raw or thawed meat in plastic bags or wrap for transport. This will prevent juices from contaminating other food items. If possible, pack raw meat products in a separate cooler as well. If only one cooler is available, pack near the bottom so juices won’t spill on other foods.
• Bring extra plates and cooking utensils – one set for raw foods and another for cooked foods. This will help prevent cross-contamination.
Keep your coolers cool
• Cold food should be kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure your cooler is well insulated with plenty of ice or ice packs to keep the proper temperature. You may need to replenish the ice frequently if you are out in the heat for a long period of time.
• On warm days, transport coolers in the back seat of an air-conditioned car instead of in the hot trunk. On cold days, transport coolers in the trunk rather than in a heated car.
• Remove only enough raw meat from the cooler that will fit on the grill.
• Don't leave foods unrefrigerated for more than two hours or in hot weather (90 degrees Fahrenheit or above) more than one hour.
• Eat carry-out or prepared foods within 2 hours of purchase or within one hour in hot weather.
Cook to the proper temperature
• Cook hamburgers and bratwursts to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and chicken to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Carry along your meat thermometer to make sure foods are safe to eat.
• Never partially grill meat or poultry to finish cooking later.
