10 Top Tips for a Successful Picnic

Written by
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Elaine Lemm
Updated 09/20/19

The sun is shining and everyone wants to head outdoors. Alfresco eating becomes an obsession when the weather warms up and what better way to indulge than with a picnic. You need a blanket, drinks, and most of all food which is safe to eat. 

Use these top ten tips to make your picnic not only safe but a real success. Once sorted, all you need is for the sun to shine. 

  • 01 of 08

    Make Your Picnic Simple

    Picnic Time
    Sean Malyon / Getty Images

    Ensure all picnic foods are simple to transport and not too heavy to carry. Some picnic spots are isolated with a long walk to reach them. Opt for paper or plastic plates and cutlery: also easier to carry.

  • 02 of 08

    Make Your Picnic Interesting

    Summer Tomato, Pepper and Bread Salad
    Getty

    Make picnic food interesting and easy to eat – think finger food. Salad in boxes takes up much room, instead stuff pitta bread with goat’s cheese and handfuls of salad – two in one.

  • 03 of 08

    Things to Avoid on a Picnic

    Strawberry Cream Sponge Cake
    William Shaw / Getty Images

    Avoid ice cream, sticky puddings, and cakes – they are fragile to transport and wasps and other insects love them.

  • 04 of 08

    Make It Few, Make It Well

    The Great British Sausage Roll
    Diana Miller - Getty

    Prepare just a few things and do them well. To ease up on the cooking visit your local deli or farm shop and top up a few homemade goodies like mini sausage rolls. 

    Continue to 5 of 8 below.
  • 05 of 08

    Forget About Courses

    Traditionally British picnic in summer garden
    John Carey / Getty Images

    The fun of a picnic is to spread all the food on the blanket and let everyone laze around, helping themselves. Multiple courses not necessary!

  • 06 of 08

    Plan Carefully

    Young couple (30-35 years old) enjoy a picnic in the countryside, July
    Sean Malyon / Getty Images

    Plan carefully how much food you may eat. Take too much and you have to carry it all back.

  • 07 of 08

    Keep it Cool

    Cool-box with barbecue tongs in garden
    Greg Elms / Getty Images

    Use cool bags or an icebox -picnic hampers look lovely but often are heavy to carry whereas a coolbox/bags will keep food at the correct temperature to help avoid any risk of food poisoning.

    Put small bottles of water, juice in the freezer for a few hours before the picnic if you have time. These can then double-up as chiller-blocks to keep food cold and when you reach your picnic spot, the drinks will still be cold.

  • 08 of 08

    What You Must and Must Not Take

    barbecue
    i-stock

    What You MUST Take

    • The sun may shine so take sunglasses and sunblock.
    • Napkins or hand wipes, bugs love sticky fingers.
    • A good, reliable bug spray, just in case.
    • Bags to take all your rubbish home. Make sure the perfect picnic spot remains a perfect picnic spot.

    What You Must NOT Take

    • A radio or music system of any kind.
    • An unruly dog (or kids).
    • Unless allowed, candles, portable barbecues or any other fire risk.