The Easy Sandwich Storage Hack That's Perfect For Summer Picnics
Summer's sunny weather sets the stage to dine al fresco, and there's no better way to make the most of the long days than with a picnic. Whether you're heading to the beach, a park, or even your own backyard, the principles for packing a picnic remain the same: Keep it easy and make it fast. This way, you maximize your time outside and minimize your time in the kitchen. Given the level of simplicity, versatility, and portability, sandwiches are always an excellent option for an outdoor meal. But TikTok has a hack to make pre-picnic preparations and post-picnic clean-up even easier.
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The trick here is to make the most of not only the bread, but its packaging, too. Rather than reaching for your usual sliced bread — which comes on its own in a plastic bag — opt for a set of rolls that are arranged on a bordered cardboard lining. The lining provides structure to keep the sandwiches together during transportation, and the packaging can be tossed in the trash at the end of the day, saving you from cleaning any extra containers.
As a bonus, if you're using connected buns like Hawaiian rolls, instead of making a dozen individual sandwiches, you can cut through the entire pack of rolls in just one slice and pile on your ingredients between the two layers. This way, you have a massive sandwich that can be effortlessly cut into single servings around each roll. Afterward, simply slip the whole thing back into the lining and slide it into its original bag.
Additional ways to hack your picnic
Once you've learned the time-saving hack for how to pack your sandwiches, there are some other things to consider for a delicious picnic experience. To avoiding soggy picnic sandwiches, be thoughtful with your choice of ingredients. Some foods, for example, will only experience unpleasant changes in taste or texture when subjected to the heat of direct sunlight. Others may develop bacteria and become unsafe to eat when left in the danger zone — between 40 and 140º Fahrenheit — for more than two hours (per the FDA).
Plenty of popular picnic dishes contain meat, dairy, and other ingredients that must be kept at cool temperatures. Luckily, there's a hack to help you create the ideal storage environment without a refrigerator. All you need for the simplest way to keep food cold at a cookout is an aluminum tray and water. The day before your picnic, fill the tray with water and place it in your freezer. Then when you head outside, bring the tray with you and rest any sensitive ingredients on top of the ice block to keep them fresh and food safe.
In some cases, it's better to work with the weather than fight against it. When it comes to something sweet, you can't beat the melted chocolate hack that's ideal for picnics. All you need are a couple of bars of your chocolate of choice, a few ingredients for dipping, and some sunshine to make a fun fondue setup outdoors. As with the sandwich storage hack, this TikTok trend makes for an effortless cleanup.