Do lunchables need to be refrigerated?

[Heidict]

I think those lunchables are so infused with preservatives that they are impervious to biological action. Like the experiment with the McDonald's cheeseburger that looks the same after sitting on a shelf for a year.

I never heard about that. Are you serious? A year on a shelf and it looked exactly the same? Did anyone taste it? Do have a link?

So this morning I come downstairs and my DD is polishing off a ham sandwich while making her lunch. She goes on to tell me that she didn't have time to eat it yesterday so she is eating it for breakfest. It had been sitting in her backpack unrefridgerated for 24 hours I'll let you know if she feels sick later

At least you didn't have to worry about making her breakfast.


Really, I think we have just become paranoid as a society. People are practically bathing themselves in hand sanitizer now. We are afraid to eat anything if it has been outside of the refrigerator for more then 30 minutes and on and on and on.

As some PP said, we all managed to survive our childhoods. No refrigerated lunches, no helmets, allowed to leave our yards without the secret service following us, and we were even left home alone when we were 9 or 10 and most of us managed not to burn down the house. Heck, I remember once when I was 6 and my sister 7 and my mother would leave us home alone so she could run out to the store to grab something. Now they would have ripped us from our home and arrested my mother.

 

[mombrontrent]

My son is 12 and LOOOVES meat. There's no way a meatless lunch will do it for him. LOL!

I also have a 12 year old son who is known for taken "stange lunches". He does take turkey and hot sauce sandwiches often (always 2 if he makes sandwiches, never 1). Another thing he brings is a whole jar of applesauce. Yes the big jars. He'll put one in his lunch and that's what he'll have for lunch with maybe a bear paw. He's lazy when it comes to making his lunch so he says it's easier to just put that in than a bunch of little stuff I never make his lunch anymore so I just let him put in what ever he wants. He brings applesauce EVERYDAY wheather it's a whole jar or 2-3 of the single servings.

 

[kinntj]

My DD9 went on a field trip today that's more than an hour drive each way. She packed ham and salami sandwiches (2), chips, gogurts (2), and a gatorade. She froze the gatorade and gogurts to keep the sandwiches cool. It's suppose to reach 83 degrees today, so I wanted to make sure they were fine.

I'm pretty sure the lunchable will be fine. If there were yogurt in the lunch, then I would make sure they were frozen or put an ice pack in there.

She normally doesn't pack 2 sandwiches when she's at school, but they won't have time for snack stops at the zoo today, so we made sure her lunch was heavy and would fill her up.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I also have a 12 year old son who is known for taken "stange lunches". He does take turkey and hot sauce sandwiches often (always 2 if he makes sandwiches, never 1). Another thing he brings is a whole jar of applesauce. Yes the big jars. He'll put one in his lunch and that's what he'll have for lunch with maybe a bear paw. He's lazy when it comes to making his lunch so he says it's easier to just put that in than a bunch of little stuff I never make his lunch anymore so I just let him put in what ever he wants. He brings applesauce EVERYDAY wheather it's a whole jar or 2-3 of the single servings.

haha, whatever makes him happy right? As long as he enjoys it and it fills him up, then thats all that matters. I guess I spoil my son cause I still make his lunch! I should start teaching him to make his own lunch. This should be interesting.

 

[herdtoDisney]

Unless it is going to be 200 degrees where the lunchable will be, I think it will be fine for a few hours. I'd just keep it in the fridge till it was time for the kid to leave for school.

 

[MrsDuck]

We always have refrigerated them...

 

[Hannathy]

Another thing he brings is a whole jar of applesauce. Yes the big jars. He'll put one in his lunch and that's what he'll have for lunch with maybe a bear paw. He's lazy when it comes to making his lunch so he says it's easier to just put that in than a bunch of little stuff I never make his lunch anymore so I just let him put in what ever he wants. He brings applesauce EVERYDAY wheather it's a whole jar or 2-3 of the single servings.

Oh I love this! a whole jar of applesauce. Now that so many cans of things have the pull off lids maybe he should try a can of Spaghettios or something!

 

[timmac]

I never heard about that. Are you serious? A year on a shelf and it looked exactly the same? Did anyone taste it? Do have a link?

It's not worth glorifying the sensationalism by providing a link. The "experiment" wasn't really an experiment, merely pseudo-science. It's been largely rebutted by some actual controlled experimentation. (Both demonstrating that a McD burger can mold, and that a homemade one can be made to not mold) Long story short: The thin profile of a McDonald's burger makes it dry out fairly quickly before significant mold growth takes hold.

 

[sweetdana]

I freeze the whole lunchable, and put it in a bag to thaw, for lunch. I do this everyday with DD jelly sandwich, and gogurts. She keeps them in a cubby, n they thaw by lunch with still being cold.

 

[bookgirl]

Baggie of Frozen Grapes = Disposable Ice Pack + Fun To Eat

 

[goofyintoronto]

Baggie of Frozen Grapes = Disposable Ice Pack + Fun To Eat

OMG another great idea!! you guys are awesome! Im taking notes.

 

[DeniseinNS]

I would freeze a yogurt tube as part of the lunch and use that it keep it cold and the yogurt will be defrosted in time to eat

 

[ols386]

I freeze the whole lunchable, and put it in a bag to thaw, for lunch. I do this everyday with DD jelly sandwich, and gogurts. She keeps them in a cubby, n they thaw by lunch with still being cold.

There's a good suggestion. I would not have thought to thaw the whole thing.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

You could get the yogurt in the tubes (if he likes those) and freeze one or two and add that to the lunch. Adds a bit to the lunchable and keeps it cold. And disposable and edible!

And if the yogurt doesn't defrost in time, your child will love it frozen.

 

[arminnie]

I grew up in the 50's and had a tuna fish sandwich with mayo for lunch virtually every single day. And this was in the Deep South with no a/c. I also had perfect attendance awards and never got sick even with a cold.

 

[rigs32]

I bring leftovers to work for lunch and never put them in the fridge. I've never gotten sick. I agree that we are overly paranoid these days.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I grew up taking tuna sandwiches, bologna, ham, etc., to school, and there was never a thought about the food going bad. I never heard about that until I read it here on the DIS.

As for leftovers to work - I do that all the time, and I don't refrigerate it. It works out fine for me.

Also, I'll leave cheese out overnight - never bothers me. I prefer it at room temperature.

 

[sonnyjane]

What else won't perish after sitting around for a while? Apparently this thread.

 

[AnnaS]

I used to also freeze their small juice box - no extra weight with an ice pak.

 

[anniemae]

this thread is from 2012!