One of the most popular hamper gifts today is a picnic basket. There are a number of different options available with a variety of delicious goodies packed inside. While these hampers generally have all the shelf-stable goods you need, you still need to pack fresh produce. In addition, you need to make sure that you keep these foods chilled or they will no longer be safe to eat. Here are some essential picnic tips.

Planning your day out

Before you do anything, you should take some time to plan everything you will need. This includes food and non-food items like napkins, soap and so on. You may also need extra plates for serving various items. It doesn’t hurt to have extra cutlery too. You never know when somebody may drop their knife or fork.

Purchase a cooler

You need a cooler to keep those perishables fresh. There are a number of coolers on the market and some run on battery or car power while others need something cold placed inside to maintain a cool temperature. No matter the type of cooler you choose, you can always freeze bottles of water instead of using freezer packs. Freezer packs take up space and they only serve a single purpose. Frozen bottles of water keep food chilled and, once they start to thaw out, they can be consumed.

Packing raw foods

Raw meat for a BBQ should always be packed with care. Foods like chicken and pork can prove particularly dangerous when uncooked. Keep each type of meat in a different bag or container. Make sure that the bags or containers are properly sealed. In addition, it’s not a good idea to pack raw meat and similar products with items that are consumed as they are like salads, cheese and so on. Keep raw meat in a separate cooler. When planning your trip home, if you have any leftovers, you should place them in the cooler that held ready-to-eat foods. The cooler that was used to transport raw meat should not be used to transport any food until it is properly washed.

Arranging your cooler

Place ice bottles at the bottom before adding foods that you normally keep in the fridge. You can add more ice bottles in between if you like. Then place shelf-stable foods on top or keep the shelf-stable items in your picnic basket. Sealed mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise do not need to be chilled. Once opened, you do need to keep them cool. If any foods are not chilled properly, they should be discarded.

Proper food prep

Before packing your picnic basket, you need to prepare all of your items so that it’s easier once you reach your destination. For example, you can prepare meat by cutting it into portions and adding condiments at home. You can wash all fresh fruit and vegetables at home before packing them too. Even fruits with a rind (like oranges) should be washed before packing them. This helps reduce any chance of contaminating the other food in the basket or cooler.

By following these picnic basket and cooler packing tips, you will enjoy a fantastic and well-planned day out every time! The better prepared you are, the more fun you will have and the more relaxed you will be.