Keeping Food Cold On a Buffet
Ranked #10 in Weddings, #400 overall
Safe Temperatures for Food
Keeping food cold on a buffet is not that hard -- it just takes some ingenuity, creativity and tips from professionals. Keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold will ensure your guests safety and your peace of mind.
Do you know the holding safe temperatures for foods? Do you know the danger zone temperatures?
Let's look at some ways to hold your cold foods at proper temperature on a buffet and still keep it very stylish. Yes, it can be done!
Do you know the holding safe temperatures for foods? Do you know the danger zone temperatures?
Let's look at some ways to hold your cold foods at proper temperature on a buffet and still keep it very stylish. Yes, it can be done!
Image Credit - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
Contents at a Glance
Food Thermometer
Important Catering How To
Check to make sure your catering dishes
are doing their job.
Benefits of this thermometer include:
- Pocket-sized quick-read thermometer that's great for measuring temp in thin cuts of meat, fish or poultry
- 5-inch stainless steel stem can get a reading in 6-8 seconds; stainless steel housing surrounding the digital readout
- Large-digit readout, data-hold capabilities, 10-minute auto-off, plastic sheath with pen clip
- Temperature range of -40 to 450 degrees F (-40 to 230 degrees C)
- Powered by LR44 button battery (included); backed by 5-year limited warranty
Important!
Cold Party Food
When holding cold foods on a buffet, they have to be kept at
40° F (4° C) or lower in temperature to keep bacteria from growing.
Buffet - Cold
Keeping Cold Foods Safe
Image Credit - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
These types of food should never be left at room temperature, even for a short time. Bacteria will begin to grow very quickly. Starting with already cold ingredients will deter the bacteria from growing.
When making a display for cold foods, using ice is the best option to keep proper temperatures. Make sure the ice is level with the top of the serving dish for best results. Then, check food temps with a thermometer occasionally and replace melted ice when needed.
Utilitarian but Stylish is Possible!
Fruit and Cheese Displays
Image - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
Image - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
Ice Bar for your Buffet
Keepin' it safe
One way to keep foods cold indoors or outdoors is with a portable, inflatable ice bar. Fill with ice and place your food directly on top of the ice for veggies and fruit or inside containers placed in the ice for salads, dips, dressings, condiments, etc...
The picture to the right is very simple, but you can jazz it up by covering the ice with silk greenery garland or bushes, flowers or other water safe decor.
The products below accomplish the same purpose. The first has a tropical floral pattern and the second is another white option. Any of these three will help keep your guests safe from food borne illness.
Food-on-Ice Servers
You can use bus tubs or large storage containers too. Make sure they are not cracked. Lay a linen table cloth in the container, fill with ice and fill with your foods or food containers. Position the table cloth around the container to hide it. Add flowers or greenery to jazz it up.
Cold Food Serving at eBay
Have fun Displaying Your Food!
Image Credit - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
Choose a basket from your own collection or buy one to go along with your theme or color scheme of your party.
Image Credit - Mandee Sears/DecoratingforEvents
Fruit trees are also fun. Use green and red grapes (safe at room temperature) and stick them to a foam cone, topiary or any other shape you desire. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
Buffet - Hot
Keeping Hot Food Safe
It is just as important to make sure your hot foods are held at a food safe temperature. Using a catering dish and catering how to will equip you with the necessary info to have a safe but gorgeous buffet!This is a Winware 4 Quart Round Stainless Steel Gold Accented Chafer
and would make a stylish addition to any buffet. It costs the same as most Crockpots - Slow Cookers but makes a statement on a buffet table. Create a Buffetscapes for your Next Party
Keep Hot Foods Hot by Crock-Pot
Cook and serve all in the same place. Less mess leaves time for more mingling. Nothin' better!
Buffet Ideas | Three Pot Crock Pot
More Self Catering Resources
- Self Catering Tips and Tricks
- People are always asking me how to keep hot food hot and cold food cold, but stylishly. They don't want to line up a bunch of roasters or those ugly DIY aluminum chafers from party stores.
- Decorating Buffets - Buffetscapes
- Yes, your buffets are part of your decor! They can add to or take away from the ambience of your event. There are many ways to make your buffet interesting, visually. Think about catered events you have attended. Chefs, caterers and event hosts are ...
- How to Make a Veggie Basket
- Step-by-step how to make a veggie basket that will keep your veggies and dips cold and crisp throughout the party.
Did you learn how to keep foods cold in a safe way?
-
-
RhondaTrapp
May 24, 2012 @ 2:11 pm | delete
- Much appreciated !
-
-
-
OUTFOXprevention May 21, 2012 @ 4:17 pm | delete
- Food safety is such an important topic! Great lens to help improve health!
-
-
-
jazziyarbrough
May 18, 2012 @ 6:45 pm | delete
- Love your creativity and ingenuity. Great post! Keep it coming!
-
-
-
productsandreviews
May 9, 2012 @ 4:12 pm | delete
- useful advice
-
-
-
BuckHawk
May 4, 2012 @ 2:32 pm | delete
- Boy, did I learn some "cool" tricks here. I'm an entertainer at heart, and these ideas will be awesome for this summer's entertaining.
-
- Load More
Who is DecoratingforEvents (aka Mandee)
With 20+ years in the event industry as everything from a venue manager and owner to caterer and decorator, Mandee is now sharing some tips and tricks so you can host the best themed wedding or event your guests have ever attended!
Table of Contents
Click on Any Button to Return to a Section
More From Mandee...
Keeping Food Cold on Buffets
These tips and tricks come straight from someone that has catered for years. Now you know how the professionals are keeping food cold on a buffet.
by DecoratingforEvents
Keeping food cold on a buffet will ensure your party, wedding of event doesn't have an unfortunate foodborne illness creep in. Knowing the safe temperatures... more »
- 129 featured lenses
- Winner of 41 trophies!
- Top lens » Ideas for Buffet Tables | Setting a Buffet Table
- This lens »
Won purple star
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Catering Dish | Catering How To Catering Dish | Catering How To
- Ideas for Buffet Tables | Setting a Buffet Table Ideas for Buffet Tables | Setting a Buffet Table
- Buffet Set Up Using Tiered Stands Buffet Set Up Using Tiered Stands
- Dessert Buffet Table Decor Ideas | Black and White Party Dessert Buffet Table Decor Ideas | Black and White Party
- Hollywood Themes | Cocktail Area Decor Hollywood Themes | Cocktail Area Decor
- Theme for Prom Theme for Prom
Silk Ivy Bushes for your Buffet
SIX 15" Mini English Ivy Artificial Hanging Bushes
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 06/01/2012)
Add some greenery to your buffet. Silk flowers and greenery bushes work best since they hold their shape even when wet from the ice. Use them to cover the ice and/or dangle down the side of your container for a finished look.
Morning Glory Flowering Bushes
TWO 40" Morning Glory Artificial Hanging Flower Bushes, with No Pot,
Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 06/02/2012)
These are perfect to add a bit of color. Steel wires used partially to hold the shape and it makes it easy to bend or shape the bushes to your satisfaction. Try it!
More Buffet Ideas Resources
