Now that most people can travel freely, they are looking forward to getting together with their friends and family. Hosting a dinner party is an excellent way of doing this. While preparing a dinner party for the people you love is exciting and fulfilling, it is still important to keep health and safety tips and standards in mind as you do so.
Ask About Allergies and Intolerances
When cooking for friends and loved ones, it is easy to forget about allergies and intolerances. Knowing someone for a long time doesn’t necessarily translate into knowing all their food requirements, so it is a good idea to ask if they have allergies and intolerances.
Many people discover they have them well into adulthood, which explains why some people change their diets as they age. Check well in advance that everyone will be comfortable with the menu and ensure the menu is safe for everyone.
The issue is that accidental cross-contamination with foods that someone is allergic to can happen, especially in a busy kitchen. For this reason, it is best to have a first aid kit with an epinephrine pen and other medical supplies should you need to attend to something like that. A basic first aid kit is a requirement in any home, and you can stock yours at medical-supermarket.com, where medical professionals shop for their medical instruments and kits.
Use Tasting Spoons
Tasting the food you make using the cooking spoon is not a big deal if you cook for yourself. However, it is unhygienic to do this if you are preparing meals for guests. To prevent this, set aside clean tasting spoons and clean them thoroughly after each tasting. Washing them after each use is essential regardless of the number of tasting spoons you have as it helps keep your kitchen clean.
Use Separate Chopping Boards
Using the same chopping board for different types of foods presents serious risks. For example, using a chopping board for meats and seafood and then using it for chopping ingredients for a salad presents serious health risks. Additionally, using chopping boards like this introduces cross-contamination that could lead to issues with allergies and intolerances, which you want to avoid at all costs. If you do not have enough chopping boards, wash them and the knives you use when changing from one type of food to another.
Ensure Alcohol Safety
Where friends and family are gathered, there is a high chance that people will have a glass or two of wine or a bottle or two of their favourite beer. As a host, it is crucial to make sure that you keep tight control over the flow of alcoholic beverages and keep an eye on how much everyone is drinking.
Additionally, check that everyone who has more than a few has a designated sober driver. You can hail a taxi or offer them somewhere to sleep if they do not.
Also, always know that you do not have to serve alcohol or provide it if you are uncomfortable doing so.
Inviting others for a meal is always exciting, but being a great host entails much more than providing good entertainment and gathering environment. You also need to ensure your guests are safe by practising good health safety, being prepared for an emergency, or being concerned about what happens after they leave.