Produce Left Out Overnight!

[DVCLiz]

I had a bag of baby carrots, a container of fresh strawberries, a bag of yellow summer squash, and 6 lemons. I forgot to go back and put them in the refrigerator after I unloaded the car, so they were out from about 5:30pm until this morning. Can I use any of it or should I throw it all away??

 

[BillSears]

I'm pretty sure they'll be fine. I know my grocery store doesn't refrigerate those items and they aren't refrigerated while they're on the farms.

 

[Claire L]

They should all be fine I would only worry about meat or dairy products left out.

Claire

 

[mommasita]

My first thought is where do you find them in the stores? Shelves for me, no refrigeration on those items...All is good

 

[Hannathy]

They don't grow in a refrigerator do they? They will be fine. most produce tastes better not refrigerated.

 

[MAKmom]

Plants do not need to be refrigerated animal product do.

Plants just last longer kept cool.

 

[kelleigh1]

Everything is fine. I don't put most of my produce in the fridge and it tends to last longer. If you put it in the fridge, it ripens faster, thus going bad faster.

 

[DVCLiz]

WooHoo!!!! The squash and the carrots were int he "sprinkler" section, where there are mister fans to water them down occasionally, but the strawberries and the lemons were in regular bins out in the center, come to think of it.

Anyway, I'm using them all. If I'm back next week, with a story about our family's gastrointestinal misfortunes, well.. you know who will be to blame, don't you??!!

Thanks, everyone!!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I don't put any of those items in the fridge. The carrots usually end up there after I havent used them by my anticipated date. Your stuff is fine!

 

[LadyyRedd]

I don't keep any of those in the refrigerator anyway, except for the carrots. They are fine! Basically, you should store your produce the way they have it displayed in the store. If it's in a cold case, refrigerate it. If it's not, don't. Refrigerating won't hurt produce, but it makes it ripen and then go bad faster.

Kimya

 

[Christine]

The only one I would be concerned about is the baby carrots. Only because I have read that the manufacturer says that they "inject" tap water into the bags to keep the carrots moist. If the baby carrot bags are not properly refrigerated in transit or by the store, the tap water can get slimy and the carrots can taste off. I don't think there is a danger in leaving the carrots out, but the manufacturers did state that certain microorganism in the bags can thrive without proper cold temperatures.

 

[Alesia]

Refrigerating won't hurt produce, but it makes it ripen and then go bad faster.

Kimya

You shouldn't refrigerate tomatoes or bananas. I guess it doesn't actually hurt them, but it does make them yucky

 

[CEDmom]

It's fine. Produce doesn't have to be refrigerated. In some cases it's actually bad for it.