Uncovered Sandwiches

[sherrardk]

Roughly, how long will uncovered sandwiches be ok for in a chilly/freezing village hall? Thanks.

[MissCommando]

I'd also be inclined to wrap them in foil, nothing worse than dry bread.

Those boxes are cool, good luck with the party!

[EcclesCake]

For functions where for is prepped in advance when serving, the serving temperature should be kept below 8c and food should not be on display for longer than four hours.

There are much more complicated rules I could go into..but if the sarnies have been taken from a fridge and served promptly there is unlikely to be a problem. Covering with a damp tea towel is a worrying method for contamination.

[vodkancoke]

sherr, don't be so hard on yourself. The kids will love it. If you can keep them covered in cling film until they are aready to sit down to eat then they will be fine. I have never tried the damp teatowel idea but it sounds a good one.
It sounds a fabby day, I hope you can enjoy it too xx

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

You are throwing a party for a bunch of kids.
If anyone thinks that's mean I'll kick 'em.
Anyway, the food sounds perfect. Kids are not Masterchef judges, or snobs with nothing else to care about.
I think it's a lovely idea.

[woofgang]

you are spending out on those cute holders.....how is that mean?

[sherrardk]

Woofgang - they actually work out cheaper than party plates, serving dishes, etc (although they have taken me over two hours to put together) :(

[Gavmacp]

Serve the sandwiches in batches. Not all at the same time.

[EcclesCake]

Headwreck, I have no idea who 'she' is.

From a personal perspective I take a relaxed view on how long you can keep a sarnie fresh, a cover of cling a sensible attitude to temps. When entertaining other kids I would take a more robust attitude to guidelines. When I have my professional hat on I take a super paranoid position.

Sarnies chilled, cling film, binned after four hours, no probs.

[heathfield]

Punch Magazine cartoon (circa 1905)...

Scene - London Mainline Railway Station, 1st Class Refreshment Room.

Manageress to Assistant, "Miss Jones, these sandwiches are beginning to look rather tired. Kindly remove them to the 2nd Class Refreshment Room!"

[TheOtherHalf]

Why not buy a large plastic dust sheet (about 99p) and cover the whole table in one go you can peg it onto the table until just before serving and throw away afterwards. Thats what we do at family get togethers when everone brings something, they just pop it underneath the cover

[Connemmara]

Many years ago - was a hopeless cook - and made sandwiches for my friend's son's 21st birthday - did not know how to keep them fresh and put them into my freezer -not fridge - all that night party goers I think nearly lost their teeth spitting out the ice. I never let on. God that was funny.