6 FOODS WE THINK NEED TO BE IN THE FRIDGE (BUT DON'T)

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)
What term is used to describe the art of folding paper sculptures?

BRAIN TEASER:
You are in a dark room with a candle, a wood stove and a gas lamp.   You only have one match, so what do you light first?

JOKE:
Q:  Why did the cookie cry?
A:  Because his mother was a wafer so long

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Why are there 5 syllables in the word 'monosyllabic'?

COMIC FUN:  

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
God is ultimately in control of our situation.   Being confident in that, we can face the difficult situations in our lives with boldness.


FOODS WE THINK NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED (BUT DO THEY NEED TO BE?) 


'Refrigerate after opening'.   We see this phrase on a lot of products.   Did you know there's several things with that statement that don't need to be in the fridge.   There's also things that don't say that but we assume they need to be.    This may go against many people's natural state of things, but let's take a look at some common items that many of us think need to be in the fridge, but don't really need to be.


1.  Butter  

Yep, I can't believe it's butter, can you?  Ha ha.  Just a little take on a margarine product there.     Most butter contains added salt which impedes the growth of bacteria that causes spoiling.   Unsalted butter would spoil more quickly, but still has enough natural salt to be able to leave it out for quite some time.    So you can leave your butter out.   Which makes for nicer spreading as well.   However, if you live in a 100 degree hut, it may be best not to leave it out unless you want melted butter for your popcorn.


2.  Ketchup

You see packets of ketchup left our in restaurants.   You also see ketchup on the tables.    So why do we feel we need to put ketchup in the fridge?   Not really sure why, but why not take it out of the fridge and put it on the mantel as a focal point of your home.   Ok, maybe don't do that, but if you are out of room in your fridge and have a place to put it in the pantry.....go for it.


3.   Mustard

As long as we're talking about ketchup, let's add his sidekick Mustard to the list.    There's a high acid content in both mustard and ketchup that keep it fine for about a month in the pantry.   After that, their appearance and texture start to break down.    You can keep them in the fridge for about 6 months.  So I guess it depends on how often you use them.   If you only use them for Labor Day grill parties, then you might go for the fridge storage.   If your ketchup starts to look like A-1 steak sauce, that's a pretty good clue that it's starting to be 'notsofresh'.


4.  Mayonnaise

Say it isn't so?   Is it so?   Well, here's the scoop that I've touched on before in a post about 'Old Wives Tales'.    Mayonnaise isn't a dairy product, so it doesn't need to be treated as one.     Mayonnaise is made up of oil and egg yolk.     Speaking of eggs......


5.  Fresh Eggs

If you've traveled to other countries, you'll see eggs aren't stored under refrigeration.   They are sitting at room temperature.  Why is that?   Well, U.S. Regulations require that eggs be power-washed which removes all organic matter (and any harmful bacteria) but it also strips the egg's shell of it's protective coating and so it become more porous and open to contamination.    Farm fresh eggs that don't go through this process are fine to leave out for about 3 weeks according to various sources.   I've done this and survived, but most people are comfortable with putting their eggs in the fridge.  That's fine,  but just don't put all of  your eggs in one basket.  Ok, so I couldn't resist saying that.   I'm such an egghead.   

On another egg note.  Here's a trick to know if your eggs are fresh.    

Get a large bowl and fill it with water.  A very fresh egg will sink to the bottom and lay on it's side.    A week old egg will rest on the bottom with the wider end rising up slightly.   A 3-week egg will be balanced on the pointy side with the wider end sticking up.    A bad egg talks all the other eggs into skipping town and toilet papering people's homes.   Some will even throw themselves on people's cars and homes.   Ok, maybe not that's not the test.    A bad egg will float near the surface of the water bowl.  


6.  Milk.

Just kidding.   Want to make sure you're paying attention.


6.  (for real this time)   Jams and preserves.

They're called preserves for a reason.   Anything that's been pickled or sealed in a jar was meant to stay in a pantry and last through the winter before the invention of electricity.



There's a look at a few things that fall into the refrigeration debate.   Mainly people tend to put things in the fridge if they were items they grew up putting in the fridge.   The main gist I get from looking at various info on this topic is that refrigeration can extend the life of some of these products, but isn't a total necessity if you'll be eating it quickly.    Plus, if you prefer something being cold over hot makes a difference too.   In my mind (with butter excluded) if it's not in the fridge at the grocery, it'll probably survive in my pantry.



TRIVIA ANSWER:
Origami

BRAIN TEASER:
The match

Until next time........