quick-stupid question how to safely transport sliced watermelon to child's tball game

[Anonymous]

I'm snack parent this week and need to bring sliced watermelon on the rind to my child's game. I have a cooler but how do I put the watermelon in the cooler? Does it need to be in Tupperware first? Or can I put it straight in a clean, washed cooler. Do I need ice....its coming straight from the fridge and will be sitting out for about 45 min. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I think I would at least line the cooler with saran wrap or tin foil if you don't have tupperware it would fit in.

[Anonymous]

Maybe put it in Tupperware, and then put that on top of ice or ice packs to keep everything cool?

[Anonymous]

When I was soccer snack mom, I put ice in the cooler.

I also cut the watermelon and wrapped a group of sections in aluminum foil. It was easier (and less sticky) than plastic containers.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's unsafe to put it directly in a clean cooler, but I think parents will be weirded out by it, since they won't know you washed the cooler. I also don't think it needs ice from a food safety perspective, but cool watermelon is more refreshing.

I would put it in Tupperware or gallon sized Ziploc bags with some ice. .

[Anonymous]

Definitely put it in a container…no matter how much you wash that cooler it's still not going to be as clean as a platter or tupperware. Also, it will be easier for the kids to get to it if it's from a container rather than directly out of the cooler.

Also, I would put ice packets in the cooler to keep it cold. If you don't have the re-freezable ones, just put ice in a plastic bags and use that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's unsafe to put it directly in a clean cooler, but I think parents will be weirded out by it, since they won't know you washed the cooler. I also don't think it needs ice from a food safety perspective, but cool watermelon is more refreshing.


I would put it in Tupperware or gallon sized Ziploc bags with some ice. .

I mean ice in the cooler, not in the bags, in case that was unclear.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would put ice at the bottom of the cooler. Place 3-4 slices into a gallon size ziploc bag then place the bag down in the cooler on top of the ice. Repeat, group 3 -4 slices at a time until all of the watermelon is bagged and on ice.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all!!! Put in Tupperware!

[Anonymous]

if me, I would've sliced on spot.

[Anonymous]

Why not take a watermelon and a knife. This all seems very involved. It will taste better that way, too.

[Anonymous]

The most unsanitary part of the whole process is the rind of the watermelon.

Salmonella contamination can get on the watermelon rind, then when you cut the watermelon, the knife brings the salmonella to the flesh of the melon.

So whatever you do, be sure to rise the watermelon (whole) first, in a clean sink, and scrub the rind with a produce brush.

Then cut. I would bring a knife, a cutting board, and cut the watermelon at the location. Then you don't need to keep it cool.

If you cannot do that, cut it into quarters; slice each quarter, and then wrap up the quarters in aluminum foil or saran wrap and place in your cooker on ice.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PPs who recommend washing it clean and transporting enmasse to game in a ice filled cooler. Take a clean knife and Some foil to slicing. Lay hem out on foil and serve. Bring back leftovers in foil.

[Anonymous]

I use the watermelon transporter I bought at a friend's watermelon transporter party. Honestly, I might start selling them myself. You just ask your friends to a party and they buy these watermelon transporters from you. Fun and easy easy way to make cash.

[Anonymous]

I have never in my life washed a watermelon.