How long before food is no good?

Question

I dont have a frig in my house so we have to leave the food out and the put it in a frig the next day at a friends. How long does it stay good? Is it certain foods that can stay out longer than others?

Answer 1

Some foods are more perishable than others and will spoil more quickly. Some foods like milk or other dairy products require low temperatures to prolong their shelf life. Fruits and vegetables will last for a considerable time without refrigeration. If you have meat that cannot be refrigerated immediately I suggest that you cover it completely (removing as much oxygen as possible) and leave it in the coolest spot you can find in your house. Your sense of smell can be valuable in determining whether the food has spoiled or not. Placing containers in cold water can act as an aid (as long as there are no leaks). Canned foods do not need refrigeration as they are sterile. The most perishable foods are dairy and meat products so use your own judgement to determine if they are safe.

Answer 2

Fresh Dairy and meat goods need refrigeration within 30 minutes-1hr to prevent spoilage after that bacteria sets in. Get a small electric cooler the kind used for tailgating or an apartment size frige it is well worth the $100 or so and this time of year they are even cheaper as they are a popular holiday gift. If you really can't have a cooler or frige (dorm rules or what have you) only buy shelf stable goods that includes dry goods, canned and fresh goods. Only buy enough fresh goods to last 2-3 days to prevent insect concerns and be sure everything is in a clean dry cool place, preferably plastic or Rubbermaid for insect ant rodent protection.

Answer 3

Most of it should be tossed out to be safe. All meats, anything with a cream or milk based sauce. Bread or rolls should be safe. That's probably about all. Sorry. Think about getting a cooler or ice chest for next time. You could keep the leftovers on ice until the next day.

Answer 4

It depends on the type of food I think. Leaving it out overnight before putting it away probably isn't a good idea either. . but I've always stuck to a 4 day rule, if it has been in the refrig. for 4 days since cooking it gets thrown out.

Answer 5

Deppend on the tempature of the house. But next day should be fine at this time of year for most foods. In the summer just throw it away.

Answer 6

honestly if it was something that needed to be refrigerated and it was out over night I would throw it out now. If you had it in a cooler with ice as long as it stayed cold I wouldnt worry. Most items that NEED to be cold should not be out for more than a couple hours at most.