Food Poisoning Risk

Secret: You’re More at Risk for Food Poisoning After 8 p.m.

Although it can feel sophisticated to dine out later, the closer you get to closing time, the more likely you are to get a compromised meal because the ingredients were prepped hours before, giving bacteria plenty of time to multiply.

Additionally, the kitchen may not be in ideal condition as your meal is prepared. The fryers have accumulated the build-up of an entire night's service, plus the oil isn't fresh anymore. Instead of making your food crispy, the grease just soaks into your food. Plus, the kitchen is in cleanup mode, so your dish could be being prepared next to a station that's getting cleaned, risking contamination from the spray solution.

Solution: If you're going to dine late, try to order something that's grilled, broiled or boiled. You want to get something that's cooked (as opposed to something served raw, like salad) so there’s a greater chance of killing off any dangerous bacteria.