Ohio State nav bar

Skip to main content

The Ohio State University

  • Help
  • BuckeyeLink
  • Map
  • Find People
  • Webmail
  • Search Ohio State
  • Home
  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars
  • Authors

Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Topics:

The Ohio State University
You are here: Home / Food / Be Food Safe at Your Tailgate

September 11, 2015

Be Food Safe at Your Tailgate

Football season is in full swing and many of us are headed off to a tailgate party before the game or a big viewing party at a friend’s home. While we typically plan ahead to make sure we have enough food, do we always plan to keep the risk of foodborne illness at a minimum? The term “tailgate party” means serving food or drink out of the tailgate of a truck or car. Serving food outdoors, in an uncontrolled environment is always a bit risky. To be food safe at your next tailgate:at the tailgate

  • Start with clean hands and a clean surface. If you can’t promise your tailgate will be clean, try a tablecloth as your base. Bring hand sanitizer or wipes for all who attend.
  • Pack foods for transportation to avoid cross-contamination. Store raw meats, cooked foods, or those that will be served raw (like veggie sticks) in separate coolers if at all possible.
  • Pack coolers with plenty of ice and frozen water bottles. If you tailgate frequently it may be worthwhile to purchase a mini refrigerator designed for camping or tailgates (you will save all that ice money anyway). At the tailgate keep coolers in the shade and out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
  • Keep already cooked hot foods, hot(PDF)Links to a PDF document.. To be safe these foods need to maintain a temperature of 140⁰F for several hours. Some pots come with insulated carriers designed for transport and preheating any container by putting boiling water in it before the food is also a good practice. You may also be able to plug one or two warming units into outlets in some newer vehicles.
  • If you marinate your meat and plan to grill at the tailgate, do not reuse the marinade from raw meat on cooked food. Never partially cook meat either – once cooking starts it must be continued until the food is cooked to a safe internal temperature.
  • Don’t forget your meat thermometer and proper grilling utensils to prevent burns and potential food poisoning. Poultry must reach 165⁰F, ground meats 160⁰F, and beef or pork 145⁰F.
  • Tailgate foods may not be able to be used as left-overs. As quickly bringing them back down below 40⁰F and maintaining that temperature may be difficult.
  • Pack a large plastic tote to easily put dirty food containers in when you are ready to head off to the game. When you reach home hours later the tote is easy to carry in your home for quick cleanup.

Following these tips will provide you with a tailgate party win, not a food borne illness loss.

Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.

Reviewer: Kate Shumaker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Holmes County.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Categories: Food
Tags: food safety, grilling food, tailgate, transporting food

Avatar for Lisa Barlage
Avatar for Lisa Barlage

About Lisa Barlage

Lisa Barlage is an Ohio State University Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences in Ross County. She focuses her work as the Co-Leader of the OSU Extension Signature Program, Live Healthy Live Well. This program focuses on improving the health and wellness of Ohio families through social media, workplace lessons, and email wellness challenges. In her free time, her family enjoys volunteering in their community.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

Diabetes Awareness month 2024 3

November Diabetes Awareness Month Webinars

2024 Food Preservation webinar series presented in Summer 2024

Kids Eat Free

Here Comes the Sun, Sun Meals, and Sun Bucks!

winter seed sowing timeline

Winter Sowing

How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Food Videos

  • Freezing Green Beans
  • Ohio Days – My Plate My State Video
  • Water Bath Canning Of Salsa
  • Water Bath Canning of Sweet Pickles

Follow Us!

  • Facebook

Footer

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.
Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!

Categories

  • Food
  • Family and Relationships
  • Money
  • Mind and Body
  • Webinars

Follow us!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
The Ohio State University
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY
COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

© 2025 Live Smart Ohio - Family and Consumer Sciences | The Ohio State University - College of Education and Human Ecology | Accessibility | Privacy Policy

%d