There are several important food safety precautions to take when hosting an outdoor gathering. 1. Keep everything clean--Ensure your utensils and food preparation surfaces are cleaned regularly, particularly when preparing raw meat. Wash your hands frequently. 2. Keep perishable foods at the right temperature--Cold foods should be served cold, and hot foods hot. Keep your cold foods in a cooler or on a bed of ice, out of the sun, and store hot foods in chafing dishes or in a slow cooker. Perishable foods should not be left out for longer than 2 hours. 3. Cook your meat thoroughly--Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your meat and poultry are cooked to a safe temperature. Ground meats should be cooked to 160°F (71°C), poultry to 165°F (74°C), and pork or beef cuts to 145°F (63°C).