How to Set Up a Safe & Healthy Buffet

by Norma Pfluge 12/05/2022

Buffets are a convenient way to serve a group of people. They can be especially helpful when there are many food items and a lot of guests. Even for small gatherings, a serve-yourself buffet is usually the easiest setup. Unfortunately, health concerns make buffet-style food service risky. Sharing the same serving utensils and congregating in a small space to get food makes for a greater risk of passing around germs or contaminants. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do when planning your buffet to make it healthy and safe without losing the convenience.

Individually Wrap When Possible

When serving dishes that consist of small pieces, try to wrap or package portions individually. For example, you could wrap up individual slices of roasted meats, entire mini-sandwiches or sliders or individual dessert items. Wrapping or packaging small portions of food rather than leaving the entire dish open means reducing the amount of touch points at your buffet and keeps everybody healthier.

Pass Out Serving Utensils

Rather than designate a single serving spoon or utensil per dish, give every guest their own. Every person will use their own individual serving utensils to access the food, making it so the same tools don’t touch the food more than once. If people want to go back for seconds, have them use a fresh spoon. You can even make a fun party favor out of it by including utensils in a gift package for each guest.

Spread Out

Many buffet tables are crowded with a dozen different food items. While these buffets look exciting and bountiful, they leave more opportunity for cross-contamination and spreading of germs. If there is more room between each dish, guests will naturally make more space between them. Instead of cramming a single table full of every dish, try spreading out the fare over multiple tables to create more space.

Clean & Dispose Responsibly

A key to a safe and healthy party is safe and healthy cleanup. Encourage guests to throw their own disposable supplies away immediately after finishing rather than leave them around for others to pick up. At the end of the event, gather trash and other items while wearing gloves. Any reusable dishes should go into the dishwasher or hand-washed immediately with antibacterial soap. Take the trash and recycling out of the home as soon as possible and disinfect all surfaces used by the gathering.

With the right precautions, you can have a successful and healthy buffet-style feast. Use these tips the next time you plan a food-based gathering and keep your friends and family safe.

About the Author
Author

Norma Pfluge

 Meet Norma, a trusted realtor in Middle Tennessee. With over 20 years of experience living in Smyrna with her husband and two children, she has a deep understanding of the local community. Norma's background in customer service and the medical field has given her the skills to provide excellent care and service to her clients, no matter the price point of their home.

With a passion for service and a commitment to professionalism, Norma strives to make each client's experience smooth and memorable. As a real estate agent, her first priority is education, as she listens to her clients' needs and wants and uses her skills and 10+ years of experience to deliver a stress-free and enjoyable home buying or selling experience.

Norma is dedicated to making a life-changing difference in her clients' lives and is committed to providing the highest level of service. Let Norma help you navigate the exciting journey of buying or selling your home.