Eight Tips for Keeping Buffet-style Food Safe
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Buffets are an easy and popular way to serve food at parties. However, if food is left out for long periods, bacteria that cause foodborne illness can become an issue. Bacteria are everywhere, and unlike microorganisms that cause food to spoil, disease-causing bacteria are not always easy to smell or taste. Prevention is key, and one of the best ways to prevent food borne illness is to practice safe food handling.
- Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands before and after handling food. Keep kitchen, dishes, and utensils clean as well.
- Cook Foods Thoroughly
When cooking foods ahead of time, be sure to thoroughly cook to safe minimum internal temperatures:
- Beef steaks and roasts should be cooked to 145° F with a 3-minute rest time.
- Pork chops and roasts should be cooked to 145° F with a 3-minute rest time.
- Poultry (turkey/chicken) should be cooked to at least 165° F
- Store Prepared Dishes Safely
Keep food hot in the oven (set at 200° - 250° F) or cold in the refrigerator until just before serving. If foods need to be warmed, reheat them to at least 165° F.
- Keep Hot Foods Hot
Hot foods should be held at 140° F or warmer. Use chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays on the buffet table to keep foods warm.
- Keep Cold Foods Cold
Cold foods should be held at 40° F or colder to keep bacteria from growing. Keep foods cold by nesting dishes in bowls of ice.
- Use Small Platters
Arrange and serve food on several small platters rather than on one large platter. Replace empty platters rather than adding fresh food to a dish that has older food in it.
- Avoid Cross Contamination
Always serve food on clean plates and make sure your guests take a clean dish when they go back for seconds.
- Remember the 2-Hour Rule
Don't let foods sit at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep track of how long foods have been sitting on the buffet table and discard any perishable foods that have been sitting out for two hours or more.
