Top tips for a trouble-free picnic

A summer picnic is a must when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the outdoors is calling!  National Picnic Week is the week when most Brits head out to enjoy eating al fresco but did you know that it was the French that started the modern fashion for picnics when they opened their royal parks to the public after the revolution of 1789.

Amanda and I love picnicking so much that we have got all the gear; a waterproof blanket, cool bag, picnic bag with plates, cutlery and wine glasses and we even have wine glass holders to avoid our rosé getting knocked over!  Here are our top tips for a trouble-free picnic that is food safe and a real success.

Wash fruits and vegetables at home before you pack them in your picnic.  We love to make vegetable crudités with a humous dip for our picnics.  Chop carrot, celery and cucumber sticks and place them in zip lock bags or plastic boxes.  Pack cherry tomatoes, and small dices of cheese.

You can cook meals that can be eaten cold ahead of time, like some of the meals that are in this week’s meal plan, but and make sure you have left them to cool completely before packing them in your cool box.

Salads make a great picnic meal and can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight box.  Make sure you pack the salad sauce separately in a small tub so that it doesn’t “cook” the salad.  You can shake to mix just before serving.

Invest in a cool bag or icebox and pack it with ice or frozen gel packs to ensure you keep food below -5°C.  Distribute your ice or gel packs evenly throughout the box and try to keep your cool box closed.  Once at the picnic site, limit the number of times the cool box is opened as much as you can. This helps to keep the contents cold for longer.

Don’t forget to pack sun hats, sunscreen and a sun umbrella if you have one.  We take our sun umbrella if we are going to a busy picnic area as sometimes it can be hard to find a spot under the trees!

If it’s not possible to wash your hands at the picnic, use a wipe to clean your hands, then use a sanitiser on top to sterilise them.

We always take a few carrier bags to keep everything clean.  We pack rubbish into two bags (one for recycling) and then use a third bag for the dirty dishes to avoid our picnic bag getting dirty.

Once you’ve served it, dishes should not sit out for longer than two hours, or one hour if it’s very hot outside. After this, the risk of bacteria increases and it becomes unsafe to eat, so best to throw it away when you get home. Pack away food so that your guests are not tempted to nibble later. To reduce waste, pre-plan portion sizes according to the size of your group and only pack what you need.

Pack a picnic blanket and outdoor cushions or chairs if you’re picnic site is a short walk from the car.

We would recommend investing in a picnic back pack with plastic plates, cutlery and glasses.  Most come with a tablecloth, napkins, chopping board, sharp knife and bottle opener too.  Amanda and I have a picnic back pack and often take it on hikes in the mountains with us.  Some of our friends and family think we are crazy but we love it as it’s a lovely luxury touch and much easier to carry than a hamper.

If you’re going on a romantic picnic, you could even bring flowers (and champagne)!

When I think of picnics and family gatherings in summer, I always think of the game of petanque.  The busiest picnic day of the year for the French is Bastille Day and every year, my cousins get together and there is always an inevitable game of boules.

Amanda’s English tradition is to pack a frisbee for picnics.  She has a mini foldable one that easily be carried in a pocket and is perfect for any age frisbee player.

You could also take mini portable speakers with you if you are going to an area where it is permitted.  The sound will be so much better than playing music from your phone!

Wherever you go for your picnic and whatever you cook, we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do.