Transporting and Serving Potluck - Cooking Tips

Potluck Tips

Transporting and Serving

To ensure casserole lids stay in place while transporting, place thick rubber bands over the hand and crisscross it over the lid handle. Repeat with the other side. Be sure that the casserole is not so hot that the rubber band will break.
If planning on serving ice cream with a dessert, prevent the hassle of scooping by preparing individual servings ahead of time. Line muffin tins with muffin papers. Scoop ice cream into each individual muffin paper and freeze. Once frozen, the ice cream can be removed from the muffin tin and placed in a zip lock baggy. Remove the ice cream from the freezer a few minutes before serving to allow ice cream to soften a bit.
Stabilize foods, such as stuffed peppers by placing them in a bundt pan.
Safely transport knives by sliding them into a piece of thick cardboard or in the tube of a paper towel roll.
When transporting salad, soups, and/or stews place a clean kitchen towel around the lid before replacing the cover. This towel will absorb the moisture that collects on the lid and prevents it from dripping onto your food.

• An alternative to a crock-pot is an insulated ice bucket. The dish should stay warm for approximately 1 hour.
• Use a laundry basket or heavy cardboard box for carrying non-perishable food items and/or utensils to a potluck. Both hot and cold dishes need to be kept in an insulated cooler.
• To keep dips, vegetables, meat and cheese trays, etc. cold, put ice in a leak proof plastic bag, place the bag in a large bowl, and place the dish you want to keep cold on top of the bowl. Another option would be to make an ice ring and place vegetables and fruits directly on the ice ring with the dip (in a bowl) in the center of the ring.
• When bringing salad, place dressing in a screw top container and place in a bowl with the salad. Toss the salad when you arrive at the potluck.
• The bowl of a salad spinner is the perfect size to cover a frosted cake, protecting it when transporting to a potluck.