Pineapple on pizza is up for debate, but food safety is not. When including pizza in your Super Bowl party, make sure food safety is included in the toppings.
Pizza Delivery or Takeout
When ordering or picking up the pizza for the big game, refrigerate it if you don’t eat it immediately upon arrival, or place it in a preheated oven on low. If there is not enough space in your refrigerator for the pizza box, divide the slices and store them in small, shallow containers.
Serving Pizza
Don’t forget about the pizza sitting on the sidelines during the big game. When serving food to groups, perishable foods must be placed in the refrigerator within two hours of sitting out. When perishable foods sit at temperatures between 40 F and 140 F (the Danger Zone), bacteria can multiply rapidly. Keep your pizza in the in zone and out of the Danger Zone by placing it in a preheated oven, warming tray, or chafing dish. Your pizza will be safe if kept warm (above 140 F).
Making Pizza
If you’re making pizza, remember to wash your hands with soapy water for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after meal preparation. Keep your raw meat toppings separate from ready-to-eat foods. Make sure the meat is cooked by measuring its internal temperature with a food thermometer. When preparing sausage or ground beef crumbles for your pizza toppings, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label. Lastly, store any leftover pizza in the refrigerator if it hasn’t been eaten within two hours. If you’re cooking a frozen pizza, remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the package.
For more information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or email MPHotline@usda.gov to reach a food safety expert from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Chat with us live at www.ask.usda.gov 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
