Buzz
With summer upon us, the urge to embrace the sunny weather is strong—whether it's at the beach, at a barbecue, or enjoying a picnic outdoors. However, dining al fresco can come with its challenges. Sandwiches can get soggy, plastic cutlery is flimsy, and balancing a plate on your lap isn’t always ideal. But with the right recipes and a little planning, you can create the perfect, stress-free picnic of your dreams.
Rethink the Basket
Wicker picnic baskets have a certain charm, but they are bulky, lack insulation, and aren't always practical for picnics outside the park. Consider these options instead:
Hiking: If you're going to dine outdoors, why not do it in a stunning location? End your hike with a delicious meal. The best option for this kind of picnic isn’t a basket, but a backpack—preferably one with insulation to keep your food cool, like this one or this one (available on Amazon).
At the Beach: With sand and seagulls posing a threat to your picnic, choose a container that seals tightly. If you're planning on spending the entire day, opt for something on wheels so you won’t have to carry a heavy load to the shore. Make sure it's insulated, and bonus points if it includes a built-in blender for margaritas.
For a Smaller Picnic: If it's just a couple of people (or just one), a few lunchboxes should be enough. Check out this post for a selection of the best bags, containers, and boxes to suit your needs.
For the Traditionalist: If a classic wicker basket is your style, then go for it! This one is the top choice, though I should warn you: I received it as a wedding gift four years ago, and it’s yet to see the sun on its lid.
Make a Sandwich That Won't Get Soggy
Few things ruin a picnic faster than a soggy sandwich—well, except for maybe ants. Thankfully, there are several techniques you can use to keep your sandwich fresh and crisp:
Keep moist ingredients like condiments, tomatoes, and pickles on the inside of the sandwich, and place meats and cheeses up against the bread to act as a barrier against moisture.
Alternatively, spread a moisture-blocking layer, such as butter, avocado, or cream cheese, on the bread. Cucumber finger sandwiches work well, but make sure to coat both slices of bread with cream cheese to protect the bread from the cucumber’s water content.
If you're using soft white bread, especially for a Dagwood-style sandwich, consider switching to a sturdier roll or ciabatta. These breads will help maintain your sandwich's structure and are perfect for making pressed sandwiches, like this one from Crepes of Wrath. (Pro tip: Pressing it overnight infuses the sandwich with pesto flavor and ensures it stays intact.)
Blot your vegetables by setting wet ingredients on paper towels while assembling the sandwich, as recommended by The Kitchn.
Don’t overstuff the sandwich. Take a page from Barefoot Contessa and keep it simple with rich butter and savory ham or prosciutto on a crispy baguette. Not only will this reduce tomato slippage, but a sandwich with just two ingredients (and plenty of fat) won’t go soggy.
By using one or more of these techniques, you can bid farewell to soggy, sad sandwiches.
Put Your Picnic Food on Sticks
There’s no more awkward dance than balancing a plate on your knee while trying to cut food with a flimsy plastic knife. Sure, you could set your plate on the ground, but that means hunching over, which is bad for your posture and not exactly flattering. Skip the struggle by putting your food on sticks. Not only will you eliminate the need for weak utensils, but you’ll also keep one hand free at all times (well, until you grab a drink).
For an appetizer, try these Greek Salad Skewers from Fine Cooking. For the main course, serve up some Classic Club Skewers from Stephanie Lynn, and for dessert, load up a stick with fruit and brownies and call it done, just like Mel does in her kitchen. If you can cut it into pieces, it can go on a stick.
Put Your Food in Jars
I know, I know. We’re all a bit over Mason jars. Somewhere along the way, they went from charmingly rustic to the poster child for Pinterest trends. But honestly, they’re still fantastic containers. They’re easy to pack, clean, and unlike flimsy plastic, they’re durable and look great. (And if you can’t stand the aesthetic, just use an old peanut butter jar instead.)
In Mason jars, you can layer individual salads, with dressing on the bottom and greens on top, without worrying about soggy lettuce. You can also pre-make cocktails (or tea, if you prefer) and chill them in a cooler for the perfect ready-to-go drink. You can even serve fancy, layered desserts, like these mouthwatering no-bake cheesecakes from Family Feedbag.
Choose the Right Wine and Pack It Right
Just because you’re drinking wine outdoors doesn’t mean you should settle for the wrong bottle. For sandwiches, check out this comprehensive guide from the New York Times; for grilling, refer to this helpful chart from Vinepair.
And if you're bringing wine, make sure those bottles don’t rattle around. You could always use a wine bag, but why not elevate things by wrapping your bottles in Japanese Furoshiki, as shown in the video above?
If you want to skip the glass altogether, consider bringing cans (for example, Underwood offers a great canned Pinot) or individually-sized cups.
Photos by Blue Mountains City Library and Alex Lang.
