Holding Food this Summer: How Long’s Too Long?

slow cook and hold

Traditionally, the summer months are packed with weddings, cookouts, and backyard barbeques. While we enjoy our leisurely afternoon parties and late-evening gatherings, they're not without their dangers. We must be particularly careful about the refreshments. If they're not given due consideration, even the most safely prepared dishes can cause harm, especially if they're not kept within the proper temperature range.

While it's easy to plan simply to set out all the food at the start of the event and clean up the crumbs later, that's not always a wise move.

If we're setting out hot food options, we need to allow for some extra planning. 

Holding Hot Food

While many dishes served at summer events are cold (and therefore subject to the Two Hour Rule), cookouts and barbeques tend to feature hot meat options, as well as hot-dish sides such as roasted potatoes or mac n' cheese. 

According to the CDC, if you serve hot food, you must ensure that it stays within a specific temperature range to be safe for consumption. Whether you're cooking yourself, having your event catered, or are the one doing the catering, you must factor this dynamic into your plans. 

Keep hot food hot, at 140°F or warmer. Use slow cookers, chafing dishes, and warming trays to keep food hot on the buffet table.

Timing Is Everything

In considering how best to keep your hot foods at the right temperature for the duration of your event, you must evaluate a number of factors. Whether you need to prepare the entire spread ahead of time or whether you will replenish dishes over the course of several hours will affect how you approach this task.

Consider your menu, the potential eating capacity of the guests, the abilities of your staff, and the capacity of your hot food holding cabinets as you make your plans.

We Can Help

Here at Thermodyne Foodservice Products, Inc., we've spent the last thirty years producing high-quality appliances for commercial, industrial, and institutional kitchens. 

If you have any questions or comments about this article or would like to hear more about our premium products, please feel free to contact us at any time. 

We look forward to serving you. 

commercial food warmer

Posted in: Cooking Tips & Recipes