10 Pool Party Snacks That Never Survive the Sun

Hot weather and cold snacks don’t always mix. Some foods just aren’t built for sunshine, and they start to wilt, melt, or spoil before anyone grabs a second bite. If you’re planning a pool party, here are a few snacks better left off the table when the sun’s beating down.

Deviled Eggs

They’re a crowd favorite—until they sit out too long. Deviled eggs go from tasty to questionable real fast in the heat. The mayo-based filling can turn soft, sweaty, and unsafe if left in the sun too long. Unless you’re keeping them chilled on ice, they’re not worth the risk at a hot poolside spread.

Chocolate Anything

Chocolate and sun just don’t mix. Whether it’s brownies, cookies, or candy bars, chocolate melts into a sticky mess that’s more frustrating than fun. It smears on hands, towels, and chairs—and nobody wants to clean that up. Save the chocolate for after the sun goes down or keep it inside.

Cheese Platters

Cheese starts sweating almost immediately once it hits warm air. After that, it goes soft, greasy, and kind of gross. Hard cheeses hold up a little longer, but soft ones like brie or goat cheese don’t stand a chance. Unless you’re setting up an indoor snack table, skip the cheese board altogether.

Creamy Dips

Sour cream, mayo, or cream cheese-based dips are the first to turn when it’s hot out. They may start off cold, but they quickly turn warm and watery—and not in a good way. Even if they look okay, they can start to spoil after an hour in the sun. Go for oil-based or salsa-style dips instead.

Popsicles and Ice Cream Bars

Sure, they’re a pool day classic, but they melt faster than you can hand them out. Unless you’ve got a cooler packed with dry ice, popsicles and ice cream bars don’t last long outdoors. They drip, stain, and make a mess before anyone really enjoys them.

Fruit Salads With Bananas

Fruit seems like a safe pick, but once bananas are in the mix, things go downhill. They brown fast and give the whole salad a mushy texture. Stick to firmer fruits like watermelon, grapes, and berries. If you want to add banana, slice it fresh just before serving.

Frosted Cupcakes

Cupcakes look cute lined up on a platter—until the frosting starts sliding off. Buttercream and cream cheese frostings break down fast in the heat, leaving a sad, melted mess behind. If you’re set on cupcakes, skip the frosting or store them somewhere cool until it’s time to eat.

Pasta Salads With Mayo

Not all pasta salads are equal. The ones with mayo-based dressings spoil fast when left in the sun. They also get heavy and unappetizing in the heat. If you want to serve pasta salad, go for vinaigrettes or olive oil-based versions that hold up better on a hot day.

Chocolate-Covered Pretzels or Fruit

These seem like a fun combo—until the chocolate starts melting and the pretzels lose their crunch. Chocolate-covered anything is best saved for cooler indoor gatherings. At a pool party, they’ll just leave your hands sticky and your plate messy.

Yogurt Parfaits

Yogurt may seem like a healthy choice, but it doesn’t belong outside for long. In the sun, it quickly turns runny, warm, and unappetizing. Even with a cooler, it’s tough to keep yogurt cold enough for more than a few minutes. Skip it unless you’re serving indoors or keeping it chilled until the last second.

Stick to Snacks That Can Handle the Heat

Some snacks just aren’t made for sun. When the temperature climbs, it’s better to keep things simple with chips, salsa, fruit skewers, or anything that doesn’t melt, spoil, or slide around. The less you have to worry about, the more you can enjoy the party—and that’s the whole point.

This article first appeared on Happy From Home.