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[vc_row][vc_column][ultimate_ctation ctaction_background=”#6FDE38″ ctaction_background_hover=”#6FDE38″]Beat the heat at your summer parties and keep all the food fresh with these tasty tips.[/ultimate_ctation][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Summer is a time to gather and enjoy the company of family and friends—with delicious food! But keeping it all cool while you party in the sun can be a challenge. That’s why we’re sharing these helpful tips.
1. Coolers are Your Best Friend
Typically, we think of coolers as a place to keep drinks cold. But they can be used for food too! If possible, keep extra coolers stocked with ice around so you can store cold dishes that don’t fit in the fridge. If ice is stacked high enough, you can even set pasta salad bowls, fruit platters, and more right on top of the ice with serving utensils so guests can serve themselves straight from the cooler.
2. Replace Burners with Ice
You likely aren’t serving a ton of hot food in the summer which means you can forget the burners you’d have under trays and instead use more ice. Fill serving trays with a layer or two of ice cubes and place your dishes on top to keep them cool while your guests dig in.
3. Pre-Chill Party Food
Before stacking food on ice for party time, you can chill it in the fridge to make sure it goes out fresh. Covering food with a clean towel can also help keep coolness in—and little fingers out!
4. Make It a 3-Course Meal
Go ahead and make your barbecue feel fancy by serving your food in courses. Instead of having watermelon sit out with the burgers, try setting out appetizers like fruit and pasta salad on their own first. Then put those dishes in a cooler or the fridge when you set out the burgers and hotdogs. Move any extras of these inside when it’s time to put out dessert. Using courses ensures nothing sits out too long.
5. Estimate Leftovers Right Away
You may not know what will be left over at the beginning of your party, but if you know you have excess food, leave some of it in the fridge from the start. It’s totally fair to use smaller portion sizes on a super hot day, and simply bring out extra food if you run out. This way nothing goes bad, and if you do have leftovers, they’re already stocked away and not waiting for you to rush inside at the end of a hot party day.
There you have it—tips to ensure your food stays refreshingly chilled this summer so you can keep your cool too!
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