Picnic Smarts

Brittany Spieker, Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Educator Author

07/03/2025 Added

3 Plays

Description

I’m here with a sunny reminder that July is National Picnic Month! It’s a great time to grab a blanket, pack a basket, and enjoy a meal outdoors with your family and friends.

Searchable Transcript

Search:

[00:00:00.960]Hey there, North Central Nebraska! I’m Brittany Spieker,
[00:00:03.465]your local Food, Nutrition, and Health Extension Educator
[00:00:06.280]and I’m here with a sunny reminder that July is National Picnic Month!
[00:00:10.300]It’s a great time to grab a blanket, pack a basket,
[00:00:13.540]and enjoy a meal outdoors with your family and friends.
[00:00:16.960]But before you head out, let’s talk about something we’d all rather avoid
[00:00:21.540]foodborne illness, also commonly known as food poisoning.
[00:00:25.658]As you may know, foodborne illness can happen
[00:00:28.038]when food isn’t cooked properly, isn’t kept at
[00:00:30.278]a safe temperature, or is handled in an unsafe way.
[00:00:33.758]And in the summer heat, the risk goes way up.
[00:00:36.898]So here are a few simple ways to keep your picnic both fun and safe:
[00:00:42.960]First up — keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold.
[00:00:47.280]Perishable foods need to stay at safe
[00:00:49.440]temperatures to prevent foodborne illness.
[00:00:51.760]Cold foods should be kept at or below 40 degrees
[00:00:55.100]in a cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs.
[00:00:58.600]Hot foods, like grilled meats, stay at 140 degrees
[00:01:03.300]or warmer in an insulated container until serving time.
[00:01:08.020]Second — don’t let food sit out too long.
[00:01:10.880]Once food is out of the cooler or off the grill, it’s on the clock.
[00:01:14.909]Perishable foods — whether they are hot or cold —
[00:01:18.349]shouldn’t sit out for more than two hours at room temperature.
[00:01:21.249]And if it’s hotter than 90 degrees outside,
[00:01:23.820]that window drops to just one hour.
[00:01:26.660]After that, bacteria can grow fast, and
[00:01:29.260]it’s safest to pack it up or toss it out.
[00:01:32.940]Third — wash up before you dig in.
[00:01:35.540]Washing your hands is always ideal before prepping food or eating.
[00:01:39.540]But if you don’t have access to running water,
[00:01:42.080]bring hand sanitizer or moist towelettes.
[00:01:45.260]Clean hands are your first line of defense against foodborne illness.
[00:01:49.020]And don’t forget to clean cutting boards, utensils, and
[00:01:52.440]other surfaces — especially if you’re handling raw meat.
[00:01:56.360]Fourth — watch out for cross-contamination.
[00:01:59.680]Use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked foods.
[00:02:03.771]The burger fresh off the grill shouldn’t go back on the same plate
[00:02:07.291]that held the raw patties—and same goes for the tongs.
[00:02:10.811]Swap them out or wash them before using them with cooked food.
[00:02:14.971]And here’s a pro tip: pack raw meat in its own cooler,
[00:02:18.811]separate from ready-to-eat foods, to help prevent
[00:02:21.580]cross-contamination before you even start cooking.
[00:02:24.820]And finally — when in doubt, throw it out.
[00:02:27.700]If something’s been sitting out too long, smells off, or
[00:02:30.247]just doesn’t look right — it’s not worth the risk.
[00:02:34.047]Trust your gut and not the potato salad that’s been baking in the sun.
[00:02:38.143]So this July, celebrate National Picnic Month with peace of mind.
[00:02:43.002]Safe food is part of a healthy life, and just a few extra steps
[00:02:47.002]can help protect your family and keep the fun going strong.
[00:02:50.062]This message is brought to you by Nebraska Extension
[00:02:52.782]helping you to live well, eat smart, and enjoy every season, safely.

The screen size you are trying to search captions on is too small!

You can always jump over to MediaHub and check it out there.

Comments

0 Comments

Picnic Smarts

Description

Searchable Transcript

Comments icon comment

Related Channels

Comments