Independence Day is on its way, and nothing beats eating a refreshing dessert while watching fireworks light up the sky. But before you can dig in and enjoy, you’ll want to make sure your cookout has gone off without a hitch. Here are three food safety tips for a disaster-free July 4th party:

1. KEEP FOOD & DRINKS SEPARATE

Make sure you have separate coolers for beverages and food. When outdoor temps soar, opening a cooler lets the cold escape, even if you’re just swiftly grabbing a drink before slamming the lid shut. Keeping foods in their own coolers of ice will guarantee they stay a cold, safe temperature before they hit the grill for dinner.

2. COOL IT DOWN

Be the hero by having plenty of ice and coolers on hand, making certain everything stays cold that needs to: beverages, mayo-based salads, meats for the grill, etc. Having plenty of coolers with ice provides a safe place for your guests’ dishes to stay chilled until dinner time and saves room in your refrigerator.

3. HEAT IT UP

Brats and burgers are often on our menus for July 4th celebrations, and they can be culprits for being charred on the outside yet undercooked on the inside.

Here are a few tips to help you master the barbecue:

• Choose the correct ground beef. For a grilled burger that tastes delicious you need ground chuck or ground sirloin (approximately 20 percent fat) that is loosely packed. Cook these guys at a high temperature (direct heat) to begin with, then move them over to a cooler part of your grill to allow your burgers to finish internally.
• Break out that instant-read thermometer. Insert it from the side to easily test a burger at the center. A safe internal temperature for ground beef burgers is 160 degrees F., but remember to take them off the grill at an internal temp of 155 degrees F. Place the burgers onto the buns, then immediately place them all back into the bun bags. Cover the bags with towels and let the burgers rest for a good 10 minutes. The residual heat will bring your burgers up to the correct internal temperature and won’t make the buns soggy.
• For brats, we often choose stadium style. Stadium brats are fully cooked so you’re just grilling them to heat them up, add some char and to impart the flavors of the grill — so easy, so tasty and so safe. These are especially great to use if you're cooking for a lot of folks, as they cook fast.