Serving Up Safe Holiday Buffets

Entertaining is one of the mainstays of the holiday season. With proper preparation, you can be creative and tempt your party guests with an array of fun platters while still keeping food safety in mind! Plan a “bacteria-free” holiday buffet with these easy tips for food safety when entertaining.

Size Matters

If you’re planning a buffet at home and are not sure how quickly the food will be eaten, keep buffet serving portions small by:

  • Preparing several small platters and dishes ahead of time and replacing the serving dishes with the fresh ones throughout the party.
  • Storing cold back-up dishes in the refrigerator and keeping hot dishes in the oven set at 200°F to 250°F before serving. This way, your late-arriving guests can safely enjoy the same appetizing arrangements as the early arrivals.

Take Temperatures

Hot foods should be kept at an internal temperature of 135°F or warmer.

  • Use a food thermometer to check. Serve or keep food hot in chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays.
  • Be aware that some warmers only hold food at 110°F to 120°F, so check the product label to make sure your warmer has the capability to hold foods at 135°F or warmer. This is the temperature that’s required to keep bacteria at bay!
  • Eggs and egg dishes, such as quiches or soufflés, may be refrigerated for serving later, but should be thoroughly reheated to 165°F before serving.

Chill Out

Cold foods should be kept at 41°F or colder.

  • Keep cold foods refrigerated until serving time.
  • If food is going to stay out on the buffet table longer than 2 hours, place plates of cold food on ice to retain the chill.

Keep It Fresh

Don’t add new food to an already-filled serving dish.

  • Instead, replace nearly empty serving dishes with freshly filled ones.
  • Be aware that during the party, bacteria from people’s hands can contaminate the food. Plus, bacteria can multiply at room temperature.

Watch the Clock

Remember the “2-Hour Rule”: Discard any perishables left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, unless you’re keeping it hot or cold.

  • If the buffet is held in a place where the temperature is above 90°F, the safe holding time is reduced to 1 hour.
  • Watch the clock with leftovers, too! Whether you’re sending “doggie bags” home with guests or are saving them for yourself, leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as guests arrive home and/or within 2 hours!

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

The above information is courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).