MSU Extension Safe Food & Water

Potlucks are a fun way for friends to socialize, share a dish from home and try new foods. However, they can also be an invitation for unwanted guests like bacteria and foodborne illness. Some people may be hesitant to participate if they are unsure that everyone is following proper food safety guidelines. 

Family and friends with food allergies or sensitivities will have additional concerns about the ingredients in the foods that others bring. It’s important to avoid cross-contact, which is when a food allergen is accidentally introduced onto another surface or food item without allergens.

Planning a potluck menu? Consider these questions:  

• Do any of your guests have food allergies, sensitivities, or special dietary requirements?

When you send out your invitation, ask guests to include in their response to the invitation if they have any food allergies, restrictions or special diet requests. You can plan your menu based on the responses received. If you are assigning dishes for everyone to bring, suggest those with allergies bring food they know they can eat. This will ensure there is one dish they know is safe for them to eat.

Also ask everyone to make an ingredient list of the food they bring. You can provide recipe cards to be placed beside each dish. That way guests with allergies and food preferences will know what is in all dishes provided.

• How far will guests travel to get to your gathering?

When choosing what to bring or what you ask your guests to bring, be mindful of how far food will travel without heat or refrigeration. If you or a guest has a farther commute, it may be best to suggest nonperishable food like cookies, cake, chips or jarred salsa.

Cold food should be kept in a cooler or in a container with ice packs. Hot foods are best transported in a slow cooker with an insulated cover to stay warm. Bring an extension cord for the plug to be sure the slow cooker can reach an outlet. Casseroles can be wrapped with aluminum foil and then wrapped in a towel; this will help maintain heat. Insulated bags for purchase work for either hot or cold food.

• At the site of the potluck, are there outlets? Is there a stove or microwave? Will there be access to refrigeration?

When arriving at the potluck, make sure there is room in the refrigerator, and in the oven, to maintain the temperature of each item until it is time to serve. Check for outlets to plug in your slow cooker to keep food out of the temperature danger zone. Hot food can also be stored in an oven at 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit until it is time to eat.

Keep cold foods like eggnog, cheesecake, cream pies/cakes with whipped cream or cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated or kept over shallow containers of ice to keep them cold. If not refrigerated, throw out these food items after two hours.

There are many ways to keep food safe when having a potluck. Be the one to pay attention to food safety details so you can enjoy your next potluck. If you would like more information about potluck food safety, see Michigan State University Extension’s Preventing Potluck Paranoia bulletin.