How to Avoid Double Dipping

Double dipping is gross, but darn it, you want more dip. How can you swallow that piece of celery without more ranch dressing? Double dipping is a must in order to make the vegetable appetizing. What do you do? Do you do some sneaky double dipping while no one's looking, or do you choke it down? Before you start double dipping, why not consider a few alternatives? Not only will you get all the dip you'll need, but also no one will gasp as you sink your celery in for another round of ranch dressing.

The Negative Effects of Double Dipping
It's important to note that double dipping is extremely unhealthy. If everyone was double dipping, what do think would be in the dip? Truth be told, double dipping is like everyone sticking their tongue in the dip. That's not exactly appealing, is it? Do you want to be swallowing the germs coming out of your friend's mouth? But, is double dipping really unsanitary? Clemson University performed a study that found that double dipping could spread at least 50-100 bacteria from mouth to mouth. Apparently the study started after a rerun of a classic "Seinfeld" episode in which George is caught double dipping. This also may have been the first time the term was used to describe placing food into dip twice. Regardless of how the study or term got its start, it's safe to say that double dipping is very unsanitary.

Three Ways to Avoid Double Dipping
Double dipping may be nasty, but how do you avoid it? You want more dip, but you're not swapping spit with your friends. Maybe you should just skip the dip all together and grab some hot wings instead. Darn it, those need dip, too. Are party goers doomed to a night of swapping germs? Nah, you just need to rethink your dipping strategy with three simple rules:

1. Portion out your own dip. Before everyone starts "spitting" in the dip, grab a small plate and grab some dip for yourself. That way you can double dip all you want without spreading any germs. Best of all, you'll never taste that nasty celery under all that creamy ranch dressing.
2. Break food into smaller pieces. One of the best ways to get more dip, without double dipping, is to break your food in half. This way, each piece of food has the right amount of dip.
3. Spread the dip on your food. If the tips listed above aren't an option, spread the dip on the piece of food. This allows for great coverage and prevents double dipping.

Tips for the Host
If you are ever the host of a party and happen to serve dip, there are some things you can do to prevent double dipping. First, place dip in smaller cups. You can purchase small bowls used for recipe preparation, or you could even use small custard cups. This gives your guests the proper amount of dip and prevents any spit swapping from taking place at your party. Second, chop items smaller so that guests can get as much dip as they need on each piece of food. Third, place the bowl of dip where everyone sees it. If everyone's looking at the dip, people are less likely to start double dipping. Last but not least, always have a backup bowl of dip. This ensures that if someone is caught double dipping, everyone else will be able to enjoy a germ-free bowl of dip.

There's no doubt about it, double dipping is down right nasty. Yet, with a little bit of work from guests and hosts, double dipping can be prevented. Remember, it's up to you to stop this germ spreading party hazard. Don't let your friends fall victim to double dipping.