Super Bowl Food Safety: How to Ensure Your Foods Don’t Fumble

Super Bowl Snacks© Scukrov / Canva

With Super Bowl LVII right around the corner, many of us are gearing up for some friendly competition, delicious snacks, and of course, plenty of beer. But just because you’re ordering takeout or delivery foods for your Super Bowl gathering this year doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice food safety. Let’s dive into the top tips from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service for ensuring that your takeout and delivered foods don’t fumble during the big game.

Cleaning Surfaces for Food Safety

Before handling any food items, it is important to make sure that all surfaces are clean and free from contaminants. This includes washing your hands before and after handling food items and avoiding cross-contamination of surfaces by using separate cutting boards or plates for raw meats/poultry and ready-to-eat foods. Additionally, disinfect kitchen equipment, utensils, and countertops regularly with a solution made from one teaspoon of unscented bleach per quart of water.

Separating Raw Meat/Poultry from Ready-to-Eat Foods

It is essential to keep raw meat/poultry away from cooked or prepared foods in order to prevent cross-contamination. This means storing them separately in the refrigerator as well as making sure that they are handled with separate utensils. Additionally, it is important to properly store raw meats/poultry to prevent cross-contamination—for instance by wrapping each item separately so that juices do not drip onto other foods or surfaces.

Cooking To Proper Internal Temperatures

Cooking food to its proper internal temperature is one of the most important steps in ensuring food safety during the Super Bowl—especially when ordering takeout or delivery items that may be pre-cooked but still need heating up. Always check the internal temperature of meats using a thermometer; this ensures that they reach their minimum recommended temperature (e.g., poultry needs to reach at least 165F).

The USDA also has recommendations for minimum internal temperatures for various types of food items such as beef, pork, lamb, fish, etc.—so make sure you check these out before serving any type of meat dish at your Super Bowl party!

Refrigerating Promptly After Cooking And Eating Foods

It is important to store leftovers promptly in shallow containers for rapid cooling after cooking or eating them (ideally within two hours). Doing so helps prevent bacteria growth which can cause foodborne illnesses. Leftovers should then be kept refrigerated or frozen within two hours after cooking and eating them; if not stored properly in an airtight container within this time frame, bacteria can quickly multiply on them causing them to become unsafe for consumption.

Maintaining Danger Zone Temperature Range For Takeout & Delivered Items

Keeping takeout & delivered items out of the danger zone temperature range (40F – 140F) is essential in order to avoid bacterial contamination while they are on their way from restaurant kitchens directly into our homes—and it doesn’t hurt either if we can maintain those temperatures once we receive our orders! Using an insulated cooler with ice packs can help keep these hot & cold dishes safe until mealtime; however, it’s also important to know how properly heat up cold dishes like chicken wings before serving them at your Super Bowl celebration!

By following all these tips on cleaning surfaces for food safety; separating raw meat/poultry from ready-to-eat foods; cooking to proper internal temperatures; refrigerating promptly after cooking and eating foods; and maintaining a danger zone temperature range when receiving takeout & delivery items–you’ll be sure not let any delicious dishes fumble during Super Bowl LVII! Enjoy the game!

If you have food safety questions, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), email MPHotline@usda.gov or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

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This article is intended for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only and should not be construed as advice, guidance or counsel. It is provided without warranty of any kind.