When you first enter the buffet line all you're probably thinking about is where to start first. Should you go with the salad or head straight for the prime rib? What you're probably not thinking about as you start piling food onto your plate is how long its been sitting out. This, however, should be the first concern.

It's not uncommon for a buffet to let food sit out for an hour or more. To avoid this problem, arrive at the buffet when they first open. This ensures that what you are eating is as fresh as the buffet has to offer (unless, of course, it's last night's leftovers). Also on that note, you should be weary of an empty buffet — unless, of course, it just opened. An empty buffet may sound like a food lover's dream, giving you access to as much food as you want without a long line to stop you, but an empty buffet could be a warning sign. More people at a buffet means they have to replace the food sitting out with fresh food more frequently. Without a steady flow of people, there's no telling how long the food has been sitting there.