January 30, 2024

Whether you’re looking forward to rooting for your favorite football team, or are eagerly anticipating this year’s commercials, one thing is paramount to a Super Bowl party – the delicious spread of food.

Unlike other food holidays where meals are often consumed within an hour, Super Bowl parties often include snacking throughout the game for a longer duration of time. As you’re preparing for this year’s celebrations on Sunday, Feb. 11, be sure your game plan includes how you’ll safely prepare and serve food.

Tackling a game day spread? Here are a few key tips to keep food safe throughout Super Bowl Sunday.

KEY PLAYS TO AVOID FOOD SAFETY PENALTIES:

• Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after preparing food and before eating.
• Separate raw meats from ready-to-eat foods like vegetables when preparing, serving, or storing foods.
• Make sure food is cooked to a safe internal temperature.
  • Chicken wings = 165°F (74°C)
  • Burgers and sliders = 160°F (71°C)
  • Chili and other reheated foods = 165°F (74°C)
• Keep hot foods hot (140°F or warmer) and cold foods cold (40°F or colder) throughout the game.
• Throw out perishable food that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or more than 1 hour if it has been exposed to temperatures above 90°F).

FOOD SAFETY PLAYBOOK:

• The warm-up: prepping food
• Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after preparing food and before eating.
• Use separate cutting boards, plates and utensils to avoid cross-contamination between raw meat and foods that are ready-to-eat.
• Wash your cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.
• Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water, even if you don’t plan on eating the peel.

Kickoff: serving food with safety in mind

• Use a food thermometer to check that each dish has reached a safe internal temperature.
  • Chicken wings = 165°F (74°C)
  • Burgers and sliders = 160°F (71°C)
  • Chili and other reheated foods = 165°F (74°C)
• Follow recommended standing or rest times for food.
• Offer clean, separate serving utensils for each dish to discourage guests from eating directly from bowls.

Defensive plays: keeping food safe during the game

• Make a plan for how you’ll keep food at the appropriate temperature during the game. Bacteria love temperatures between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), also called the danger zone, and will grow rapidly if they are in this temperature environment for more than two hours.
  • Keep hot foods at 140°F or warmer. Use chafing dishes, slow cookers, and warming trays to keep food hot.
  • Keep cold foods (like salsa and guacamole) at 40°F or colder. Use small service trays or nest serving dishes in bowls of ice.
• Be sure to put cooked food and leftovers in the fridge or freezer within two hours of preparing, or within one hour if the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F.
• Refrigerate cooked food and leftovers for three to four days at most. Freeze the food if you won’t be eating it soon.

FOOD SAFETY RESOURCES:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention| Game Day Food Safety Tips
• FoodSafety.gov | Your Winning Game Plan for Super Bowl Sunday Food and Leftovers
• FoodSafety.gov | Don’t Let the End Zone Become the Danger Zone: Your Guide to Hosting a Penalty-Free Super Bowl Party
• USDA | Don’t Fumble Food Safety on Super Bowl Sunday
• USDA | Safe Food Handling and Preparation – Kitchen Thermometers