Tips to Picnic Safely

Residents of Flagstaff apartments want to enjoy eating al fresco. Friends and family often bring prepared dishes to picnic in a variety of parks and spaces in Arizona. Prepare and offer meals that can keep in hot summer months to prevent illness. Consider these suggestions when picnicking outside of your Flagstaff apartment:

• Maintain the temperature of food. Cold food needs to stay cold and stored at 40° or below. Frozen gel packs or a cooler with ice can be used to safely store seafood, poultry and meat.
• Avoid cross-contamination. Products that include raw meat should be wrapped securely. It is important that juices from uncooked meats do not have a chance of contaminating other prepared or cooked foods.
• Clean produce properly. Use a vegetable brush and tap water to scrub any firm-skinned vegetable or fruit. Other produce should be rinsed under tap water prior to packing. Vegetables and fruits can be dried with a paper towel or clean cloth.
• Keep hands and surfaces clean. Proper hand cleaning is needed both outdoors and indoors. Platters and utensils should be clean in order to prepare food. To keep surfaces and hands clean in areas without running water, bring a jug of water, soap and paper towels to the picnic spot. Moist towelettes are useful for cleaning hands.

Marinating and cooking foods thoroughly is also helpful to avoid foodborne illnesses when eating outdoors.

Stay Social and Healthy Near Flagstaff Apartments

Butterfield Apartment Homes offer the best of country club living only minutes from Historic Downtown Flagstaff, Flagstaff Mall and The Marketplace. Community amenities include an onsite fitness center, luxury pool and grill area. Butterfield Apartment Homes Flagstaff apartments studio, two and three-bedroom apartments are near highly sought-after attractions. Contact an associate at (844) 864-0303 for a tour of a spacious residence in Flagstaff.