FROM VIRGINIA TECH FOOTBALL'S HOME OPENER AGAINST MARSHALLND THE CAMPUS SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO A TAILGATING OASIS. W-F-X-R'S MICHAEL DOTI HAS MORE ON HOW WEEKEND TAILGATERS CAN PROPERLY PACKTOREND COOK SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE GAMEDAY MEALS. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 10 MONTHS SINCE THE HOKIES LAST PLAYED A GAME IN LANE STADIUMBUT THAT WILL COME TO AN END THIS SATURDAYHEN THE MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD PAYS A VISIT TO BLACKSBURG. THE CAMPUS SHOULD BE PACKED WITH WITH ITS OWN HERD OF HOKIE TAILGATERS. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD SERVED BOTH HOT AND COLDUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS ALL SAFE TO EAT.ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO MAKE SURE IT IS PROPERLY STORED."IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COLD FOODS COLD, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN A COOLER BY THEMSELVES, NOT THE SAME COOLER YOU WOULD USE FOR YOUR DRINKS OR YOUR CONDIMENTS THAT'S GOING TO BE OPENED PRETTY FREQUENTLY. WE ALSO RECOMMEND YOU PUT THEM IN COOLERS WITH WHITE LIDS, THOSE ARE GOING TO REFLECT THE LIGHT, SO YOU KEEP THAT NICE AND COOL INSIDE."RAW MEATS SHOULD ALSO BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM COLD COOKED FOODS TO AVOID CROSS-CONTAMINATION. HOT FOOD PREPARED IN A CROCKPOT SHOULD BE PLUGGED IN AND/OR PROPERLY INSULATED. IF YOU CAN'T PLUG IN YOUR CROCKPOTOUR GRILL CAN KEEP THE FOOD INSIDE WARM."YOU'RE GRILLING BURGERS RIGHT, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE TAKING OFF THE GRILL, AND YOU COULD ALWAYS MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE GRILL. IT'S NOT DIRECT COOKING, IT'S GOING TO STAY HOT, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO COOK RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE IN A WARM SPACE, GREATER THAN 140 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT."TAILGATERS SHOULD ALSO BE MINDFUL OF HOW MUCH FOOD THEY PREPARE. IF THEY HAVE TOO MUCH LEFTOVERS LOT OF IT CAN GO TO WASTE. "UNFORTUNATELY YOU SHOULD THROW THOSE FOODS AWAY, BECAUSE WHEN IT'S IN THAT ZONE THE BACTERIA CAN GROW TO A LEVEL THAT EVEN REFRIGERATION, IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP IT, IT'S GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN, BUT THE BACTERIA ARE STILL GOING TO BE THERE."REPORTING IN BLACKSBURGICHAEL DOTIFXR NEWS. STICK WITH US -