You might not think about it until you find yourself in a market where your catering business is located, but the outdoor environment can affect how your food tastes. The humidity and temperature can also be more problematic than you expect. That’s why catering companies need to prepare for climate changes, so their foods don’t spoil or become too hot to enjoy.
Here we discuss some of the ways suppliers should consider when planning for outdoor events and things they should avoid. Knowing these tips will help businesses make sure their meals taste good even outdoors!
1. Get familiar with the venue –
Before you tailor your menu, you want to know what type of venue or environment you are catering for. For example, a concert venue will have different needs than a wedding or park. You also need to study the weather in case there is inclement weather such as rain or windy conditions –
2. Avoid foods that contain mayonnaise –
If you are preparing foods with mayonnaise and think the food might be sitting outside, make sure to use egg-free mayo instead. Egg-free mayo tends not to spoil as quickly as regular mayo. Also, make sure that you package your foods properly before going outdoors. When packing, avoid putting mayonnaise into pantry or garage items.
3. Serve foods that have a short shelf life –
When catering for outdoors events, foods like meats and sandwiches go bad quickly when exposed to the wind and severe weather. To avoid this, make sure your meats are cut up into small portions and wrapped tightly in foil or an airtight bag before you leave them outside. You can also consider using vacuum packaging if you want your food to stay fresh longer.
4. Don’t over-pack your dishes –
When catering for a park, the food should not be too heavy. Pack your dishes in such a way that they won’t fall over and break on their own. The good idea is to use disposable plates and bowls to control the weight of the dish. Also, avoid using heavy metal utensils to minimize weight problems.
5. Keep foods cold –
Foods that don’t go bad quickly often taste better when kept cool in a refrigerator or cooler, rather than sitting out all day in the heat of the sun. Again, keep packing your dishes in such a way that they won’t fall over and break on their own. If your area is hot and dry, consider using airtight containers filled with ice that keeps foods cold. As the ice melts in hot weather, you should replenish it frequently to keep the food cool and fresh.
6. Drink plenty of water –
When catering for an outdoor event, ensure your clients have plenty of water on hand, too, since dehydration can occur more quickly in a very hot and dry environment. There’s also the risk of getting heat rash from sitting on a bench or eating out of paper bags with no sleeves to help protect you from the sun or wind.