Tailgate Cooler Packing Tips

Stadium-bound this weekend? Before you head out, study this game-day guide, plan ahead, and avoid a nightmare of gastronomic proportions.

  • Game-Day Checklist

    Don't leave home without these outdoor essentials. Shop at www.tailgatetown.com for some cool tailgating toys.  

    • Outdoor chairs and folding tables
    • Tailgate tent or canopy
    • Packed coolers
    • Matches/lighter and charcoal (for a portable grill)
    • Cookware and utensils
    • Condiments
    • Bottle opener
    • Paper towels, napkins, and wet wipes
    • Plates, cups, plastic ware
    • Trash bags
    • Extra blankets
    • Rain gear (umbrella, poncho, boots)
    • Hat
    • Sunscreen
    • Sunglasses
    • Bug repellent
    • Bottled water
    • Camera, binoculars
    • First aid kit
    • Your tickets! 

  • Aubie

    10 Basic Tailgating Rules

    If you're past the college days of tailgating (translated: beer-guzzling gatherings), then go to game day like a grown-up. Graduate from those frivolous times to some serious fun.

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Like a scene from a horror flick, your homemade ham salad or crowd-pleasing casserole could come back to haunt you--and everyone else at your tailgate party--if you don't practice safe food storage. Follow our easy advice to prevent a real-life disaster.

Whether you're tailgating, hiking, camping, or just planning a picnic, these food guidelines always apply.
 

  • Reserve the bottom of the cooler for colder foods.
     
  • Store salads, spreads, and dips in tightly sealed containers.
     
  • Pack hamburger, hot dogs, and other meats separately in individual zip-top plastic freezer bags.
     
  • Fill your cooler with plenty of ice, or use ice packs and frozen bottles of water. If traveling a long distance, consider taping the cooler lid with sturdy tape for a tighter seal.
     
  • Keep cooked and raw foods in separate containers. If you plan to cook on-site, make sure you pack additional clean plates. Never place produce or cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat.
     
  • Follow the one-hour rule: Foods that need refrigeration should not sit out longer than one hour.

 

Shannon Sliter Satterwhite, Kenner Patton

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