While the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are preparing for their Super Bowl -Rematch in New Orleans on Sunday, fans are preparing for an evening of football, food and – if recent history is an indication – many Taylor Swift – observations.
Whether you are looking for the game, the commercials or just to see if Swift makes another appearance to support Travis Kelce van de Chiefs, food safety must also be part of your game plan.
Super Bowl Sunday is one of the largest food consumption days of the year, with an estimated 1.45 billion chicken wings are expected to be eaten nationally. That is enough wings to fill every chair in all 30 NFL stadiums, each with almost 700 wings. But before you dig in those wings or another favorite of the game-day, you follow the most important rules for food safety to prevent an upset from the field.
Avoid the ‘danger zone’
Whether you pick up or serve home -made food, perishable items should not be at room temperature for longer than two hours. The USDA warns that food has been omitted in the “hazard zone” (40 degrees F to 140 degrees F), bacteria can quickly multiply, thereby increasing the risk of food transferred by food. To keep your team safe:
- Store warm food at 140 degrees for a warming drawer, oven or slow cooker.
- Save cold food at 40 degrees F or by placing dishes on ice or cooling until serving.
- If you plan to keep food for a long time, release new portions during the break.
Safe temps for chicken wings and more
Chicken wings are a main component of Super Bowl, but too cooked poultry is a common culprit of diseases transferred by food. Make sure that your wings reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F using a feeding thermometer – checking multiple wings to confirm that the entire batch has been cooked.
Other Game-Day Favorites have their own safe cooking temperatures:
- Ground meat: 160 degrees F
- Whole meat (beef, pork, lamb): 145 degrees F with a rest time of three minutes before you are served
- Leftovers and stews: 165 degrees F
Half -time: Clean and save leftovers
When the half -time show starts, this is also the perfect time to pack food. Keep leftovers in shallow containers and cool them quickly. If food has been omitted for more than two hours, it’s time to throw it away.
While Swifties and football fans unite for the big game, a food handed over by food does not let your party be caught. Whether you cheer for Kelce and the Chiefs, the Revenge Tour of the Eagles, or just here for the rest time of Kendrick Lamar, a small food safety for food, ensures that your party is a victory.
(To register for a free subscription to Food Safety News, Click here.)