How to keep food warm at a picnic

There is nothing better than a real picnic on a beautiful day: a delicious meal surrounded by nature.

We believe that a picnic is one of the best ways to enjoy food, whether you’re surrounded by friends and family, or just want to enjoy some peace and quiet by yourself.

We normally associate picnics with cold food, but why not break the mold and bring something warm?

But how do you keep food warm at a picnic?  The best way to keep food warm at a picnic is to use a combination of heat bags and an insulated picnic basket. You can also keep food warm in a casserole, crock pot, or insulated food container.

Feeling inspired to bring some hot dishes to your next picnic? Let’s take a look at how to do it safely and find the best ways to keep your food hot and tasty outdoors.

Why serve hot food at a picnic?

There’s nothing wrong with traditional cold picnic food—everyone loves a delicious sandwich or pasta salad. But sometimes it’s nice to do things differently, and hot food can add a whole new dimension to your picnic menu.

Bringing hot food for your outdoor adventure means you can picnic in any weather, enjoying a delicious hot feast on a crisp fall evening or cold winter day.

Bringing hot food can also open up a ton of menu options, perfect if your kids get bored of snacks!

And we’re not just talking about soups: dishes like lasagna, curries, stews and frittatas can be enjoyed hot in the open air.

And while cold picnic food can be tasty, food served hot opens up a whole new load of flavors and aromas. Whether we’re offered a cold cheese sandwich or a hot plate of lasagna, we know what most people would choose!

Safety tips for serving hot food

For many types of food, keeping it warm for a long time is risky.

Bacteria multiply rapidly in food stored at the wrong temperature, greatly increasing the risk of an upset stomach or food poisoning.

Food safety advisors recommend that food be stored at the following temperatures

• Chilled: 40°F or below
• Hot: 140°F or higher

Therefore, anything between 40-140°F is the danger zone and should be avoided. Keep in mind that these temperatures are what food should be stored at, as well as what it should be served at.

This means your stew needs to stay above 140°F from the time you cook or reheat it until you want to eat it—this could be several hours if you’re on a long hike!

If you plan to serve hot food anywhere temperature may be an issue, consider investing in a food thermometer. This will help give you peace of mind that the food is hot and safe to eat.

Remember that if you are serving hot food at a picnic, you will also need appropriate cutlery, plates, and utensils.

Bring heatproof bowls and napkins so people can protect their hands. You may also need a heat resistant blanket to place the hot dishes on.

How to keep food warm outside without electricity

When you take out food to serve at a picnic, you should try to keep it as hot as possible. Food must have been heated to at least 140°F before heading out on your picnic.

It is not a problem if it goes below 140°F, but if this happens it should be eaten within 2 hours.

And of course, no one enjoys a lukewarm curry or bowl of soup. If you’ve worked hard to make a delicious dish, it deserves to be enjoyed hot!

Heat your food to the fullest before heading out on an outdoor adventure, without burning or spoiling. This will help keep it above 140°F longer.

When you serve hot food outside, keep it in its insulated container until you’re ready to eat. It’s not about serving on fancy plates, but the food must be kept warm and protected.

Do not unpack or uncover food until the last moment, and keep the plate covered as much as possible.

Any food that has been left out at 140°F or below for more than two hours should be thrown out, so the trick is to keep the food as hot as possible.

Let’s look at some great ways to keep food warm at a picnic.

thermal packs

Did you know that many cold packs can also be used as heat packs? If you have a thermal bag hidden in the closet or in the freezer, take a look, it may be the answer you were looking for!

However, if you don’t already have one, hot and cold packs are a versatile and affordable option for keeping your food warm.

They can be heated in just a couple of minutes in the microwave and will stay hot for several hours if kept well insulated.

The best way to use heat packs is to put them under and on top of the food container, and wrap everything in an insulating layer, such as a towel.

Or you can even use heat packs inside some of our other hot food solutions, like insulated bags and coolers.

Insulated Picnic Baskets and Bags

Insulated bags are a great way to keep your food hot and delicious.

There are plenty of stylish and practical picnic baskets and bags, or you can even get yourself an insulated lunch bag – perfect for bringing larger dishes to your cookout!

When choosing an insulated carry bag, choose one that is easy and comfortable to carry . You want to make sure that the food container can sit flat on the bottom of the bag to prevent spillage.

Add a couple of cooler bags and you have the ultimate in hot food transport.

cold box

A cooler is not really a cooler, but rather a well-insulated container that retains heat just as well as keeps food cold. You just have to put the hot food in its container in the fridge and close the lid.

When you arrive at your destination, the food will be at the perfect temperature to serve it directly.

The only problem with refrigerators is that some are not easy to transport. If you’re buying a new one, look for one that’s well insulated and the perfect size for your hot dishes.

A long carry handle can make it more comfortable when traveling longer distances.

And of course, you can’t use your fridge for hot and cold food at the same time! So if you’re carrying both, or want cold drinks, you’ll need two separate containers.

Slow cooker or casserole

Slow cookers, slow cookers, and thick-sided casseroles retain heat for a long time.

Before going on a picnic, heat the food on the plate as much as possible, then put the container in a heat-resistant bag. Wrapping the dish in an insulating layer, such as a blanket, can also help retain heat.

You can also purchase insulated bags specifically designed to transport slow cookers and hot casseroles. These will keep food hot for as long as possible, allowing you to serve a piping hot dish wherever you are.

Insulated food containers and serving bowls

If you’re only bringing a small portion of hot food to your picnic, an insulated food container or serving bowl is an easy-to-carry option.

Wide-mouthed jars are perfect for soups and stews , or try an insulated serving bowl, which usually comes with cutlery inside the lid. Ideal for a solitary walk in the countryside!

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to keep food warm at a picnic, let’s take a look at some related questions!

How can I keep food cold at a picnic?

Just like keeping food warm at a picnic, keeping food cold can be tricky too! Refrigerated foods must be kept at 40°F or below to prevent bacteria from multiplying.

If food is allowed to reach temperatures above this, it should be consumed within two hours.

Here are the best ways to keep food cold at a picnic:

• Fridge
• Insulated picnic bags
• ice packs
• frozen water bottles

To keep food cold as long as possible, don’t remove it from the container until you’re ready to eat. Keep food containers out of direct sunlight. If you’re near a stream, cold water in a bucket is a great way to keep drinks ice cold.

How can I serve hot drinks at a picnic?

Although cold drinks are lovely and refreshing at a picnic, sometimes you feel the need for a delicious hot drink, especially on a cold winter’s day.

You can prepare hot drinks in advance and keep them warm in a flask or thermos , or bring hot water in these containers and prepare the drinks at the picnic.

On the other hand, heating water for hot drinks at a picnic is not as difficult as it seems. Portable camping stoves are light to transport and can be powered with small gas bottles or firewood.