As Michiganders gear up to watch the big game this Sunday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reminds party hosts to play it safe when handling and serving Super Bowl snacks. And, when planning your menu for game day, make sure your game plan includes Michigan food and agriculture ingredients.
“There are two ways to host a winning Super Bowl watch party,” said MDARD Food Safety and Animal Health Bureau Director Tim Slawinski. “First, take a few easy steps to prevent foodborne illness and keep your family and guests healthy; and second, feature Michigan grown and processed foods for a winning menu.”
Game on!
Here are a few tips to play it safe on game day:
Play a clean game. Wash hands immediately before and after handling food. Research shows that 99 percent of people don’t wash their hands correctly. To properly wash your hands, wet your hands with water, lather with soap and scrub for 20 seconds. Rinse your hands and dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Clean and sanitize all cooking surfaces and utensils, especially after handling raw meat. You’ll also need to wash your hands often throughout the game.
Don’t mix players from different teams. Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods like fresh fruits and vegetables by using separate cutting boards and utensils. This will prevent cross-contamination of bacteria and keep your MVPs from getting food poisoning.
Have a game plan. Foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Know when you plan to serve the food and set a timer to remind yourself to start packing up leftovers. If you plan on serving food throughout the game, make two portions of each dish. Serve one portion as the game starts and keep another portion in the refrigerator or oven to rotate out after half time.
Click here to read more michigan.gov
Photo Credit: gettyimages-anilakkus
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables