Taking your party to the road, away from your house is one of the fun parts of a picnic. When the party is away from your home, you can’t dash home to get the corkscrew you left at home or get the knife you need to cut that wedge of cheese. Having an organized checklist will give your picnic all the fun of eating outdoor and a change of scenery from your backyard view you’re used to.
Here’s a list of items you should pack for your next picnic.
A Picnic Basket, Hamper, Tote, Cooler, or Backpack
You need something to transport your food, drinks, and items you need for the place setting. Whatever you call it or whatever style you choose, it should be strong enough to carry these things. If you will be driving your car close to the picnic venue and your food is not perishable, a traditional picnic hamper would be the ideal choice for you. If you plan hiking deep into the woods, it would be more appropriate to use a backpack as your picnic carrier. Cooler is your best option if you’re bringing a lot of food and beverages that should be served cold. For moving the food and beverages easily, you can mount the cooler on wheels.
A Picnic Blanket
You definitely want to bring a blanket to sit on, and spread the content of your basket except a picnic table is provided in your picnic location. Any blanket is ok, it could be an old comforter, a flat bed sheet, or even a tablecloth. But some real picnic blankets are designed with waterproof lining material to keep you dry when the ground or grass is damp.
Portable Folding Picnic Table
Your gathering is incomplete without snacks and wines to make the mood a little more festive. If you’re worried about making a mess, we got you covered. We have the perfect portable picnic table for you, with it, you’ll never knock over a bottle again. The table features a built-in bottle holder with space to hold four wine glasses. This table measures 17.3” x 15.7” x 9.4” (44cm x 40cm x 24cm) which makes it large enough for your sandwiches, salads, and any other food you want to keep off the ground, away from the insect. It was voted #1 on Ode Magazine. Voted #1 on Ode Magazine.
Plates, Glasses, Utensils, and Napkins
You could just eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwich from the plastic bag and wipe your hands on your shorts, or bring along a proper table setting to make your picnic feel a little more special. Depending on the location of your picnic or what occasion it is, your place setting could be casual, with disposable plates, cups, utensils, and napkins, or you could bring your best, beautifully decorated table linens and silverware. Just remember to arrange and pack things carefully to avoid breakage.
Corkscrew or Bottle Opener
If you forget to bring these items along, you’ll almost curse the day you decided to take your picnic away from your backyard. If your picnic requires a bottle of wine or any other beverages your bare hands can’t open, remember to pack the appropriate gadget to open them.
Cutting Board and Knife
As mentioned earlier, you could bring your sandwich in plastic bags from home to your picnic. It would be nicer to make your sandwich on site and eat them fresh. This way, you will avoid soggy bread, and you’ll only need to chill the perishable ingredients.
Ice Packs or Thermos
The same way you’ll need coolers and enough ice to keep your ingredients, wine and beverages chill, if you are bringing hot food to your picnic, you will need a thermos to keep it at a safe temperature.
Trash Bags
If you enjoy the outdoors, leaving your trash behind is a bad idea. You need a bag to take home your trash. In addition to the trash bag, you will need extra bags to take home your dirty dishes and glasses to keep your picnic basket from getting soiled.
Paper Towels or Wipes
You may want to include paper towels or wipes in the list of items you need. You need it to wipe your picnic table if you’re using one and wipe your hands before and after eating.
Atmosphere
If your picnic location does not have enough atmosphere to create the mood you desire, create your own. If you want to make it extra romantic, go with flowers, candles, and a lighter to set the mood. If you light a candle, ensure you contain the flames and put it out completely before you go back home.
