are these ok after no refrigeration?

[DizBelle]

Thanks to Hurriane Ike, we did not have power for 9 days. I have two items that I had in the refrigerator that I still have and I'm wondering if I should just toss them or if they are probably ok.

Jell-o pudding cups which were and still are sealed
Babybel cheese - the little round cheese that were and still are sealed with red wax

Would either of these be ok now?

 

[breezy1077]

toss 'em

 

[JessicaR]

toss 'em

agreed.

 

[TEENEE]

Toss em. It's not worth the risk of someone getting sick.

 

[Michelle67]

The jello pudding cups are sold on the shelf in the store, not in the cold case.

 

[laurie31]

If the jello is the kind that requires refrigeration (you bought it in the refrigerated case at the store) then definitely toss it. If it's the kind you buy on the shelf that doesn't need refrigeration, then it will be okay.

However, your cheese is FINE!! Do not toss the cheese! I promise!

Send the cheese to me if you don't want it! LOL

Seriously, cheese doesn't have to be refrigerated. Honest!!


http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/280964

"Cheese in general doesn't need to be refrigerated, particularly if it is encased in wax or a more natural rind.

In fact the only reason to keep cheese covered at all is to keep the fat in the cheese from sucking up funky flavors and drying out.

But as for refrigeration?

Consider that cheese ages on unrefrigerated shelves for months or years before it is put in your grocer's refrigerator case. Also consider that people have been eating cheese long before refrigeration... think food for sailors on the great european sailing ships. Cheese was invented as a way to make milk immortal. It's modern American psychology that has made us so paranoid about refrigerating everything."

 

[nataliela]

I wouldn't risk it going from hot to cold to hot to cold

I threw away EVERYTHING in my freezer and fridge. Even bottled drinks.

 

[DizBelle]

My pudding cups are the kind from the refrigerated case at the store. I thought these might have to go - darn it!

I thought the cheese might be ok especially since it is sealed in wax.

 

[JessicaR]

The jello pudding cups are sold on the shelf in the store, not in the cold case.

Mine are in the fridge. Maybe they make two different pudding cup types?

 

[breezy1077]

The jello cups are in the fridge here too.

The only reason I said toss the cheese is because of the heat in TX. At those temps - I would probably toss em.

I've had 2 bouts of food poisoning before, and trust me - it isn't worth it.

 

[c4a]

Toss it. Pudding-definately. Cheese-put it into perspective-you paid how much for it? Chance of it being bad=minimal. However, if it did go bad-your Dr. bill would be how much? Toss it. Not worth it.

 

[Christine]

As far as I know, Jello pudding is always sold in the refrigerator case of the grocery store. The brands "Handi-Snack" and "Snack Pack" puddings are on the shelf.

I think Jello Brand is actually made with more real milk and less preservatives.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Our jello cups are in the fridge section, too. They have milk in them and milk that hasn't been cold in days - hell, in hours - is something I'd toss.

OP, I feel your pain. I'd just done a big shopping and lost hundreds of dollars worth of meat, dairy, etc. when we had the big multi-state power outage for a week. Couldn't even buy ice - nobody had electricity and there was no gas to drive all over looking for anything. What a mess.

But you just have to toss that stuff and start over.

The fridge does look much prettier when everything in it is full and new. Small comfort.

 

[tlens]

It's all of $5.00 worth of food. Not worth the risk.

 

[RitaZ.]

The jello pudding cups are sold on the shelf in the store, not in the cold case.

The Jello brand pudding cups are always refrigerated here. There are some other brands that don't require refrigeration, but Jello isn't one of them.

I would toss them. Not worth the risk.