Warm breezes and a bluer-than-blue sky are beckoning you to dig that dusty picnic basket out of the closet and rustle up some tasty morsels. Besides, who doesn't love a picnic? Eating outside, with your hands, in the sunshine, with the ants...OK, not everything about this activity is smooth sailing, but with a few smart hacks, you'll be sitting pretty, in the sand or on the grass, enjoying a delicious spread.
Here, eight brilliant hacks that'll make your next outing outstanding:
Bugs be gone There's nothing more disgusting than creepy-crawlies in your potato salad (or up your leg), so take a moment to prep your picnic spot with this easy fix. Talcum powder is your go-to—simply sprinkle a border of it around your picnic blanket (ants don't like climbing over this stuff) and your meal with be bug-free.
Pack a knife You can't cut anything with plastic silverware! Do yourself a favor and include a paring knife and a small cutting board in your tote. This blade will come in handy when you want to slice up some cheese for snacks, halve fruit for dessert or cut a bit of lemon peel to garnish your martini.
And speaking of drinks... Before you fill your cooler with booze, read up on local laws regarding open containers in public (some beaches and concert venues are fine with wine, while others don't allow alcohol at all). But no matter what you're drinking, make sure there's enough of it and that it's icy cold. Premixed cocktails are ideal at a picnic—just add ice and serve—so consider bringing a batch or two of negronis or margaritas. Strawberry lemonade, minted ice tea or another juicy concoction will taste great, too.
Ice, ice baby Be creative when it comes to packing those cubes. Freeze containers of water ahead of time in plastic juice or water bottles and then nestle them in your cooler around the food. These vessels will not only keep food fresh, they'll do double duty as they melt: you can drink the water, of course, and also use it to clean up sticky hands or dab on stained shirts.
Jar it! Remember when desserts in a jar were a thing? Cramming pineapple upside-down cake in a Mason jar seemed silly at the time, but when it comes to picnics, packing side dishes in these containers makes good sense (and they're so pretty!). Layer salads in this order: dressing on the bottom, sturdier veggies and cheese next (carrots, cucumbers, red onion, feta) and then top it with delicate leafy greens and chunks of avocado. When you're ready to serve it, shake the jar to distribute the dressing.
Mayo? N-O Dishes with made with mayo, eggs or other dairy toppings can be kept on ice in a cooler, but there's still a chance they'll go bad after riding in your (warmish) car and being exposed to the elements. Skip mayo-laden mac salad and deviled eggs in favor of cole slaw with an Asian vinaigrette, cold pasta with pesto or tangy German-style potato salad made with mustard.
Grill and chill There's a reason chicken legs are common picnic fare. Foods that have been roasted or grilled ahead of time taste fabulous at room temperature. Ribs, oven-fried chicken and grilled eggplant and zucchini are an excellent place to start. Just add sliced prosciutto, a ball of fresh mozzarella and some country bread.
Sweet endings The simplest picnic desserts are often the most successful, so don't try and lug a layer cake or other complicated treat. A bag of fresh cherries, sliced strawberries tossed with sugar, brownie bites and a few butter cookies are easy to pack and will appeal to all guests.
Now you're ready to get your picnic on.
