Are you in charge of organizing the family potluck holiday dinner this year? If you’re the one, make certain you follow the two-hour rule.
Food held in the temperature danger zone for more than two hours can cause food-borne illness. When disease causing bacteria have food, water, time, and temperatures in the danger zone from 40 to 140 degrees, they multiply and can cause illness.
Plan for travel time when making the food assignments. Those traveling long distances might bring non-perishable foods like breads and cookies. Friends living close by could bring recipes with perishable ingredients. Encourage your guests to use coolers for cold items during travel and to wrap hot food items in foil and heavy towels to keep them out of the danger zone. Finally plan to serve food shortly after guests have arrived, keeping hot things hot, and cold things cold.