Super Time Saver Food Prep for 4th of July

Are you planning a big shin-dig for Independence Day? If so, consider some of these make-ahead food ideas for 4th of July entertaining. Prepping ahead of your picnic or barbecue celebrations will enable you to relax and enjoy yourself.

First, begin by creating a budget for your event. Choose which foods you will serve and decide which ones can be prepared beforehand. Try to determine a schedule to begin making the food so you have very little to do the actual day of the fourth.

Pre-marinade any meats you will grill. This will infuse the meat with the flavors of the marinade. You can also use different types of soaked wood chips to give the food more flavor.

If your friends and family will be bringing items to the party, you may want to ask guests to provide beverages and desserts. This will allow you to be in charge of both the main dishes and vegetables so you can ensure the foods are kept at the right temperature so they are safe for the party-goers to enjoy.

Potato salad, cole slaw and deviled eggs are made with mayonnaise and eggs and are common 4th of July fare. If you choose to make these, prepare salads a day ahead of time and keep them refrigerated until right before the meal begins. Once everyone has had their fill, pop them back into the refrigerator.

Other salads which can be made without eggs or mayonnaise would be better options. Three bean salad, pasta salad, non-dairy salad dressings for a tossed salad and gelatin salads are some foods to consider serving.

For dessert, rather than having something made with dairy products, try fried fruit pies. Pies can be made several days in advance, kept in the refrigerator and then reheated and enjoyed the day of the fourth. You may also want to consider making homemade ice cream during the meal to serve with the fried pies when it is time for dessert.

Take the necessary precautions to ensure the food being served is kept hot if it is supposed to be hot or cold if it should be cold. The danger zone for food is between 40 and 140 degrees. If cold foods get above 40 degrees bacteria which can cause food poisoning may begin forming. The same is true if hot foods fall below 140 degrees.

When planning 4th of July entertainment, make as much food ahead of time as you can. The more you can do before the event will mean you will have more time to enjoy the festivities, food, fireworks and your guests!