Are you planning a Super Bowl party? If so, make certain food safety is part of your menu plan.
Handling and holding food safely during the big game that is packed with commercials and time outs can
lead to a lot of time for bacteria to grow as the game continues.
Keep in mind these tips:
¥ Keep Cold Foods Cold: Place dishes filed with cold food in a large bowl filled with ice. For purchased
party trays from the supermarket consider removing the lid and filling it with ice and placing the tray
on top. If you are preparing food at home use small platters and refrigerate and rotate them out of the
refrigerator every two hours to keep food safe. Chill leftovers within two hours and keep the
refrigerator door closed to maintain 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Make certain you have a thermometer in the
refrigerator to check the temperature.
¥ Keep Hot Foods Hot: If you are cooking food ahead of time for the party, be sure to cook food
thoroughly and reheat to the proper temperature. Hot food should be held at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot
foods on a buffet can be kept hot with a chafing dish, slow cooker, or warming tray. Another suggestion
is to place small containers of food in the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for serving in two hours.
¥ Follow the Two-Hour Rule: If you run out of warming appliances or a product is not cooled over ice, do
not keep the food at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep track of how long foods have been
kept out by watching the clock or writing the time the product was put on the table on a piece of tape
and put it on the container or just keep yourself a list of product and time.
¥ Uncooked egg products on the menu: There are some desserts that call for uncooked eggs. These products
may contain salmonella and the bacteria will grow quickly at room temperature. Make the product safer by
using pasteurized egg substitutes, powder egg whites or pasteurized eggs. The product will be just as
tasty and safer for your guests.
¥ Eat Leftovers: Divide leftovers into shallow containers to store in the refrigerator or freezer. This
encourages rapid cooling. When reheating leftovers in the oven, on top of the range or in the microwave
oven, temperatures should reach 165 degrees to make certain the food is safe to eat. Soups and other
liquid items need to be heated until they boil. Eat all the leftovers within three or four days or
freeze them for use later.
Prepare and serve the food safely to your guests. Enjoy the big game and know that the foods, snacks or
full meals, are safe for all to consume.