Don’t Stuff Your Face Just Yet

Buffets are every food lover’s dream. So many trays, so little time…and so much to steer clear of. From bacteria-laden lemon slices to congealed gravy pots, here are 20 items to skip every time.

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1. Sushi

Sushi quality is always worth monitoring. Whether you get it from your favorite haunt or spot some at the buffet, ill-prepared fish can ruin an entire weekend. That’s exactly why you should stay away from the buffet variety. Chances are, it’s been sitting for a while and is stewing in bacteria. 

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2. Cream-Based Salads

There’s nothing wrong with potato salad or coleslaw—except at the buffet. Salads slathered in sour cream or mayo can easily spoil at the wrong temperature. Not only that, they get all kinds of bacteria when left out for long periods.

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3. Pizza

You deserve better than buffet pizza, especially those soggy slices left to rot under a heat lamp. Its consistency isn’t the only problem, though. Buffet pizzas often use inferior ingredients, which simply makes a worse quality product altogether.

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4. Bread

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the bread, it’s still there for a strategic reason. Bread baskets are meant to entice you into filling up on inexpensive food, meaning you just deprived yourself of all the buffet’s goodies. Trust us, the bread keeps coming, so mosey around first to nab the good stuff. 

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5. Potato Dishes

Classic potato dishes like mashed potatoes or french fries also lure away paying customers. Think about it: getting your fill of carb-heavy dishes doesn’t leave much room for better options. Peruse the area first and grab what you really want. 

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6. Raw Oysters

Much like with sushi, oysters are bacteria farms. When left out for too long, they can start to smell and run a higher risk of contamination. The freshness of buffet oysters is also a giant dice roll. 

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7. Cut Meats

Meat-carving stations are a buffet hotspot, but proceed with caution. Just like any food, sliced meats need to be kept at certain temperatures. Without them, you’re looking at ground zero for bacteria, not to mention a tough and unsavory texture. 

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8. Deep-Fried Foods

Those chicken wings sure look enticing…which is exactly how they get you. Deep-fried foods only get worse for you under heat lamps—they can easily go soggy or become too greasy, either of which wreak havoc on your stomach. 

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9. Iceberg Lettuce Salads

Iceberg lettuce is a buffet’s prized green. While we’d never advocate you eat less of it, we are suspicious of those salad trays. First of all, dressed lettuce wilts and loses its crunch after a while. Second of all, let’s hope it was washed properly lest we eat a mouthful of bacteria. 

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10. Soups

A good soup warms the soul, but do you really trust that buffet pot? Soups need all kinds of TLC, especially proper stirring to ensure optimal results. That buffet pot probably hasn’t been touched in a while, leaving behind a cauldron filled with hot spots or an unsettling film. 

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11. Cantaloupe

Sliced fruit needs proper temperatures, specifically cantaloupe. This popular melon can’t ward off bacteria as efficiently as other fruits, leaving them susceptible to Salmonella. If cantaloupe slices are just out in the open, it’s safer to pass.  

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12. Lemon Slices

Studies show that restaurant lemons harbor all sorts of gunk. Anything from the skin to the actual flesh can be contaminated with harmful bacteria, but it’s even worse at a buffet. That lemon twist isn’t worth getting sick over. 

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13. Scrambled Eggs

Buffet eggs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they’re often either premade or loaded with bacteria—sometimes both. Stick to boiled eggs next time for a lower chance of illness. 

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14. Rice Dishes

Maybe we’re a little paranoid, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. With rice dishes specifically, improper storage or reheating can lead to foodborne illnesses. Not only that, but rice left out for too long tends to get hard and lose its fluffiness. 

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15. Pudding

You love pudding, we love pudding. What we don’t love is the buffet variety. The thing is, puddings usually contain some kind of dairy, which means spoilage at improper temperatures. They can also go rubbery if abandoned for too long. 

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16. Egg Salad

Egg salad can be just as dangerous as scrambled eggs—they’re almost the same thing. While both need proper temperatures to avoid spoiling, egg salad is made with boiled eggs, which sits easier in the stomach. So long as it’s chilled correctly, you should be okay to indulge. 

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17. Foods Without Utensils

Avoid self-serve buffet stations like the plague. The last thing you want is to stock up on anything dozens of hands have touched. If a pair of tongs happens to go missing, kindly ask staff for a replacement. 

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18. Soda

When faced with the choice, always opt for water. Not only is it healthier for you (and your teeth), but soda gets between you and all the delicious buffet food. For some, soda tends to sit in the stomach and can deter you from actually eating anything. 

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19. Salty Foods

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: excessive salt can make you thirstier. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal at first glance, buffets bank on you drinking more, not eating more. Veering away from overly salty foods can save some room for dessert.

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20. Sauces 

No one likes congealed sauce, which is exactly what you’ll get at buffets. With so many available options, reach for something that doesn’t need sauce or gravy. Not only is the consistency probably off, but they’re breeding grounds for bacteria. 

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