Questions on handling, preparing, and storing food in ways that prevent foodborne illness.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Curious mold growth in a sealled BBQ, how does one avoid it?
When finished cooking with the BBQ and cleaning the grill, I leave it running for a bit then shut off the intake and cap the exhaust (it's a Big Green Egg).
At this point the BBQ is essentially ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Can a few bad (dead) mussels harm a larger batch?
I realize there are numerous related questions on freshness of mussels:
Fresh mussels, or are they?
How do I determine if my mussels are fresh?
I couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for. So ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
At what concentration is sodium bicarbonate a sanitizing solution?
I can't find an authoritative answer to the question @rumtscho asked me here about the concentration of sodium bicarbonate, mixtures of which I've come to rely on as a cleaning and sanitizing solution ...
73
votes
10answers
17k views
Is it safe to leave butter at room temperature?
Is it safe to leave butter at room temperature? If so, how long is it safe to keep it out?
29
votes
1answer
3k views
How long can I store a food in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer?
How do I know if a given food or ingredient I have is still good, or if I should discard it?
How can I best preserve a food or ingredient?
This broad question is intended as a "general reference" ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Is it safe to eat sauteed onions left at room temperature?
I made a big pot of sauteed onions and garlic (~9 onions and a head and a half of garlic), and forgot to put it away overnight. It was probably off the fire for around 8-10 hours... Is it safe to ...
2
votes
7answers
25k views
Does pesto go bad?
I have some basil pesto but I'm not sure how long its fridge life is. It is in a sealed container. How long does it last before it is not safe to eat anymore?
4
votes
4answers
568 views
My sauerkraut was left with dark mold covering the surface, is it ok?
I had a batch of sauerkraut fermenting in the basement. During the fermentation I had to leave for over a week and left my roommates with the basic instructions to check it a couple times and skim ...
14
votes
6answers
3k views
Is Beer Can Chicken safe?
Some time ago I've read about Beer Can Chicken.
I've never heard of this in my area, but it seems (and looks) tasty! So I would like to give it a try. There is just one thing that worries me:
Is it ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Refreezing already thawed bread
I bought a loaf of bread some weeks ago, which the lady behind the counter explained was frozen (because it was leftover). This was okay for me. The bread was still frozen when I bought it and I let ...
0
votes
2answers
164 views
Should flour be thrown out past its expiry date?
As the title says, is it safe to consume flour once its past its expiry date or should it be thrown away?
11
votes
4answers
718 views
Does wax on citrus fruit make the zest unsafe to eat or compromise its flavor?
A number of (chiefly British) recipes specify unwaxed lemons for zesting. Unwaxed citrus fruit are not widely available here in Sweden, so I have to make do by attempting to remove the wax before ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
dark black furrows in sweet potatoes
I have a large jewel yam. I peeled, diced, and boiled it with sugars and some spices. When I peeled it, I noticed there were deep darkish furrows in the potato, like spots where sprouts had been but ...
12
votes
4answers
9k views
Should maple syrup be stored in the refrigerator?
Is there any reason to store maple syrup in the refrigerator? It tastes better when it's a little warmer.
6
votes
4answers
13k views
Is rare duck breast safe?
Other forms of poultry are regarded as undercooked at the slightest sign of pink juices and yet it is common practice to cook duck so that it's medium rare. Is the risk of food poisoning significantly ...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Refrigerating after reheating?
Yesterday, I got a calzone from a pizzeria, took it home and refrigerated it immediately.
This morning, I reheated it in the microwave and ate some. Then, I put it back in the fridge. Later today, I ...
4
votes
1answer
133 views
Can you use marinade twice if it was first used on precooked meat?
I made precooked frozen meatballs in the crockpot with jelly and honey BBQ sauce. It was really yummy and was wondering if the sauce that's leftover would be ok to marinate some ribs in?
10
votes
2answers
234 views
How to know whether a coconut is ripe or rancid before buying
Buying the shrink-wrapped coconuts (in shell) at the store is similar to playing Russian Roulette. All this trouble of getting the water out and breaking the shell only to find out the coconut is ...
28
votes
7answers
35k views
How dangerous is it to refreeze meat that has been thawed?
I've often been told by people that I shouldn't refreeze meat (particularly hamburger meat) once it has been thawed. However, this seems a little silly to me. I can't imagine how meat that hasn't ...
0
votes
1answer
79 views
shelf life for chocolate chips
Have some semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Been in a bag inside a plastic container in a cupboard for 2 years but expiration date on the bag says that's one year too many.
What's the shelf life for ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Do you need to cook a casserole with raw eggs before you freeze it?
I made a casserole yesterday that contains cooked pasta, cooked quinoa, dairy products, spinach and raw eggs. It is assembled and the baked at 350 for 30 minutes.
I am planning on making it again ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Freezing bones for stock
Is it ok to freeze a chicken carcass to make stock with another time? And if so, after I make the stock with it, is it ok to then freeze some of that stock or would that be refreezing & thus ...
47
votes
8answers
9k views
Is it safe to put hot food in the fridge?
I heard that putting really warm food in the fridge right after cooking it is not the right thing to do. It might cause bacterial growth? Is this true?
9
votes
5answers
18k views
How long can eggs be unrefrigerated before becoming unsafe to eat?
A friend of mine accidentally left a carton of eggs on her counter, unrefrigerated, for three days. The eggs had been previously refrigerated both at the store and at home. Now she's planning to do ...
2
votes
1answer
239 views
Black Spot on Ground Beef?
So I bought some Lean Organic Ground Beef about a week ago, went straight into the Freezer. Used 3/4 of it for Hamburger helper, cooked all the way through...smelled fine and looked fine.
However I ...
23
votes
4answers
10k views
What is the internal temperature a steak should be cooked to for Rare/Medium Rare/Medium/Well?
I'd like to know when to take my steaks off the grill and please everybody.
5
votes
2answers
10k views
How long will fresh scallops keep in the refrigerator?
Today I bought one pound of fresh scallops from the seafood counter at the local market, but my dinner plans have changed - I am no longer planning to cook the scallops this evening and I don't ...
2
votes
2answers
144 views
homemade chilli oil
I am making chilli oil using light olive oil, crushed chilli, dried garlic, dried fennel seeds and parsley. I have been making this for years. I am concerned about this Botulinum business. Should I ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Safety of Calphalon pots and pans
I hear so many thoughts on Calphalon hard anodized pots and pans. Are these safe to use?
11
votes
6answers
4k views
Botulism, Garlic, Cold pressed Olive oil and mason jars
I make a product I invented called Maybe It's Marinade. Cold pressed extra virgin olive olive, pressed garlic as the base in three varieties, AoliOliO, Dill and Cayenne Pepper, garlic powder, and ...
-2
votes
3answers
272 views
What ingredients do you add to your meat to help to reduce (bad) bacteria?
I've heard that adding lemon juice to your cooked meat can help to reduce bad bacteria. Is that true? What other ingredients that one can add to meat to reduce bacteria?
16
votes
4answers
23k views
How to keep my (deep frying) oil usable as long as possible?
I have a new deep fryer. I am pleased with its results so far. I am not a 'heavy user' though - say once every 2-3 weeks. I want to re-use the oil a couple of times. The deep fryer is covered but not ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Is it safe to eat a pork loin that has been refrigerated for 6 days?
I've accidentally left a pork tenderloin marinating in the fridge for the past six days. Is it still safe to cook and eat? I'm not sure how it will taste, but I'd hate to waste a good tenderloin. The ...
4
votes
2answers
22k views
How long can coconut milk last in the fridge?
I opened up a can of coconut milk the other day and was unable to use it all. I placed the remainder of the coconut milk into a sealed container in the fridge. I was wondering how long this would be ...
6
votes
8answers
24k views
How can I keep hot food hot when transporting it?
How can I keep hot food hot when transporting it, e.g. to a friend's house or a potluck? I usually just give up and take cold food, but I'd like to have more options.
1
vote
2answers
251 views
Does a head of lettuce really need to be refrigerated?
At the grocery store here in Germany I saw that lettuce isn't refrigerated. So I brought a head home and it's been in my pantry for 3 days and it seems fine... The English speaking internet says ...
4
votes
1answer
8k views
How to make garlic oil in a safe way…tomorrow
I am planning on making some garlic oil for a friend of mine as a birthday present. Her birthday is tomorrow, so this question is a bit urgent.
I've read a few of the posts that indicate that ...
19
votes
5answers
57k views
Is ground/minced beef bad if it turns brown in the fridge?
I bought some ground beef around 2 weeks ago and used half of it, putting the rest in a freezer bag in my fridge (not the freezer). It has since turned brown (not red, as when I bought it).
Is it ...
34
votes
13answers
21k views
Why do we peel carrots?
So I was sitting there, looking down at my counter, realizing that I probably had a good carrot or two of shavings just going to waste. (well, I'll compost it, but it's non-food at that point).
Is ...
15
votes
4answers
245k views
How long will uncooked chicken keep in the fridge?
My wife is obsessed about not leaving uncooked meats in the fridge longer than a day (esp. Chicken). If we buy chicken breast and we're not going to use them the next day, she'll put them in the ...
10
votes
1answer
261 views
Room temperature “rest” for fresh mayo?
On the mayonnaise episode of Good Eats, Alton Brown recommends letting homemade mayo sit at room temperature for 4-8 hours before refrigerating. The idea is to let the acid in the mayo kill any ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
What do I need to know about temperature and food safety?
What general rules do I need to follow to keep my food safe? How do I know what temperature to cook something to, or whether my food is safe at room temperature?
8
votes
3answers
920 views
Ideal fridge temperature accounting for temperature spikes
I've read the question on the ideal fridge temperature, but am asking a more involved question about a baseline temperature and temperature spikes. How will a few hours each day at 10 C effect the ...
1
vote
4answers
171 views
Is it safe to store raw meat alongside pre-cooked produce (ie. ready-made pies) in the fridge?
Simply, as the title says I’d like to know if it is safe to store raw meat alongside pre-cooked produce (ie. ready-made pies) in the fridge. Given the ready-made pies still need to be cooked to a high ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Is horse meat safe to eat?
It's been in the news lately about horse meat being disguised as beef.
Is this really that serious?
Is horse meat unsafe? Or is it just taboo because horses are "cute"?
4
votes
4answers
15k views
Chicken smells like eggs
I purchased some fresh chicken a few weeks ago and immediately froze it. Today I took it out and put it into boiling water to start making soup. Before I added anything else, the whole room started to ...
3
votes
1answer
181 views
Should you store cutlery upside down?
I try to touch only the handles of my cutlery (as recommended here), but I have one doubt. After washing, I place the cutlery upside down in a plastic basket. This way the handle is 'handy'.
Is this ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the 'natural flavors' in a fruit drink that contains no juice?
When a fruit (flavored) beverage says it contains all natural flavors but no juice, where is the flavor coming from? Is it possible there are man-made additives being thrown in that can be technically ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Is the smoked ham safe to eat? [duplicate]
I cooked a small boneless smoked ham after wrapping in foil about 2 hours and forgot and left it in the oven for about 12 hours after turning off the oven. Then I put it in fridge. Is it safe to eat? ...
2
votes
2answers
93 views
Food safety with mixing raw meat
Is it safe to place raw beef on the same surface that a full raw chicken has been on? I intend to roast the beef but I'm wondering if I should take any precautions?
