| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Pumpkin Pie | 11/11/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: How long doe pumpkin pie keep in the refrigerator?
A: The general recommendation for custard and egg-based pies is to refrigerated and use within 2 to 3 ...
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| pork loin left out... is it okay? | 11/10/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I had a 4.75lb pork loin in my deep freezer. I took it out yesterday around 10am and then it was ...
A: I assume from your description that the pork loin was out of refrigeration almost 24 ...
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| Health dept. inspections for home and commercial rental | 10/31/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I live in Massachusetts and I am starting a cookie business. I have an order well before i am ready ...
A: If you are renting a certified kitchen, then the health department has it on their regular list of ...
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| Bean Soaking Food Safety | 10/31/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I put lima and humus beans in the refrigerator to soak a week ago. Is it still safe to use them to ...
A: Do your beans still look and smell okay? If so, they will be safe to cook. If not -- pitch the ...
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| chili | 10/30/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I made chili at about six thirty last night and left it to sort of cool before putting it in the ...
A: Your chili was off the heat source from 6:30 pm to 1 am -- 6 and 1/2 hours. The general ...
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| Packing homemade barbecue sauce | 10/30/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I am interested in making a tomato based barbecue sauce and selling it at local farmer's markets.Is ...
A: First, you need to check with your local health department to see if tomato-based bbq sauce is ...
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| Ground Beef | 10/29/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I thawed 4 ground beef patties at room temperature for about 12 hours. Since I decided not to fry ...
A: Who knows????? All we do know is that thawing meats at room temperature increases the chances that ...
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| safe cookware | 10/28/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: Please, i wish to know are the silicone cookware and food containers toxic: like tomato soup in ...
A: Since you live in Croatia I can not speak to the quality of silicone products found in your market. ...
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| candy shelf life | 10/28/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: i am starting a small candy business , how do i add shelf life to chocolates and toffee ? how long ...
A: Congratulations on your new candy business! Chocolate, when handled properly, has a shelf life of ...
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| how long to keep thawed chicken? | 10/27/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I took chicken out of the freezer to defrost and I forgot about it - my husband worked late and the ...
A: The general safety recommendation for defrosted chicken is to use within 1-2 days of full defrost. ...
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| frozen beef | 10/25/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: Is beef frozen for four years safe to eat in a stew or soup?
A: As long as the meat was continually frozen it is safe to consume. Freezer guidelines for foods are ...
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| Non refridgerated curry gravy | 10/22/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I bought curry chicken yesterday, got extra gravy for my seconds, but forgot to put the gravy in the ...
A: Unfortunately, the recommendation is to not consume gravy that has been in the Danger Zone (40 to ...
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| chicken soup sat out all day | 10/21/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I made some homemade chicken soup from scratch. It contains broth, chicken thigh meat, carrots and ...
A: It's impossible to know for sure if your homemade chicken soup left at room temperature for 7 hours ...
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| frozen ham bone | 10/21/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: After Christmas dinner last year (2008) I put the ham bone in the freezer that evening. Now it's ...
A: As long as the ham bone was continually frozen it is safe to use. Freezer guidelines for usage of ...
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| Tomato Paste in a Tube not refrigerated. | 10/20/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: Tonight I made spaghetti bolognese with all fresh ingredients bought from the store. At the tail end ...
A: Tomato paste is an acidic food (pH below 4.6) and is therefore a food that can be at room ...
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| Left some uncooked meat in the car | 10/19/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I left some uncooked meat in the car for about 4 hours. These meats include pork chops, chicken, ...
A: If the meat was still cold (as cold as when purchased) it should be okay to refrigerate and cook. ...
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| Canning Jalapenos | 10/17/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I canned some jalapenos using a recipe that calls for a solution of 50%water and 50%White Wine ...
A: Yes, a pH below 4.6 means that the food can be canned in a hot water bath for safety. A pH of 3.4 is ...
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| Butter-based icings | 10/17/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I have heard mixed opinions on whether icings made with butter need refrigerated, could you clarify? ...
A: I consulted with a 40+ year professional baker and a Sanitarian with your question and both ...
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| Freezer temps | 10/16/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I was recently told by one of the health dept staff that freezer temps no longer had to held at zero ...
A: Both the FDA and Illinois Food code (the state where I love) state that frozen food shall be ...
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| Canning Jalapenos | 10/15/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I canned some jalapenos using a recipe that calls for a solution of 50%water and 50%White Wine ...
A: First, it is important that you are using research-tested recipes when making pickled products ...
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| Safety of picking musrooms | 10/15/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: How can you tell if a mushroom is safe to pick? Are storebought mushrooms always ...
A: As I am not a mushroom expert I will not be able to answer the first part of your question as to how ...
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| Best way to clean fruits and vegetables | 10/14/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I live overseas and need to wash by fruit and vegetables very well to get any microbes or bacteria, ...
A: I think you should read this article from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for insight on why ...
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| Best way to clean fruits and vegetables | 10/14/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I live overseas and need to wash by fruit and vegetables very well to get any microbes or bacteria, ...
A: Believe it or not, the recommended way to clean fruits and vegetables is with clean, potable water. ...
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| pasta noodles | 10/13/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: How long can cooked pasta with nothing on it stay safe to eat stored in the fridge?
A: The recommendation for refrigeration of cooked pasta is to use within 3-4 days. While it may remain ...
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| Home baked good w/certified kitchen..what else do I need? | 10/13/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: Carol, I'm considering starting a home baked goods "business" for a little extra cash. I've read ...
A: Yes, you need to be a certified food handler whether you are working out of a separate kitchen in ...
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| dates , the fruit | 10/12/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I would like to know can I freeze fresh dates? If so , how? ...
A: Yes, you can freeze dates - either whole or pureed. Use ripe, firm dates that you first wash and ...
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| cooking for friends | 10/12/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: my friends asked me to cook for them on a weekly basis, twice a week a home cooked meal. can I do ...
A: I assume from your question that your friends are paying you for this service -- right? If so, ...
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| meatloaf | 10/11/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: Is it safe to leave uncooked meatloaf in the refrigerator for two days before cooking. My meat was ...
A: It is not recommended to make up a raw meat mixture and hold it in the refrigerator longer than 24 ...
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| Goat cheese | 10/10/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I am wondering if goat cheese submerged in olive oil is safe out of refrigeration for a few hours. ...
A: Garlic in oil is a risk for botulism because of the possibility of the garlic to harbor botulism ...
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| Frozen Pizza | 10/10/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I live in Honolulu HI and want to start manufacturing vegan frozen pizzas. I have no idea where to ...
A: In Hawaii I suggest you contact the following: University of Hawaii Extension: Lynn ...
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| Goat cheese | 10/9/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I am wondering if goat cheese submerged in olive oil is safe out of refrigeration for a few hours. ...
A: First, you need to check with the Farmer's Market you are considering selling your product as to ...
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| Open canned maple syrup storage | 10/8/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: How long can maple syrup in a can be safe after it's opened? It is now is a plastic container but ...
A: According to the Vermont Maple Syrup Association, once opened maple syrup must be refrigerated. For ...
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| uncooked meatloaf | 10/7/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I just made a meatloaf but will not be able to have it tonight as planned. Is is alright to ...
A: Yes, it is safe to prepare a meatloaf and refrigerate it overnight to bake the next day. The key is ...
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| canning meat sauce | 10/6/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: in a hot bath canning process, how long does the quart jars need to process?2e
A: It is not safe to can meat products in a hot water bath -- here's why: Meat is a product with a pH ...
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| cooked bacon left out overnight | 10/5/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: We cooked bacon yesterday afternoon and the leftovers sat out on the counter on a dish with leftover ...
A: The general recommendation for all leftover potentially hazardous foods (foods capable of supporting ...
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| cabbage | 10/5/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I left a head of raw cabbage in my hot car all day can I get sick fromm eating it if I cooked it
A: Fortunatley, fresh raw cabbage does not have to be refrigerated after harvest to remain fresh. ...
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| Flavoring Olive Oil | 10/4/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: I want to flavor my olive oil by cooking it with a few cloves of garlic and then discarding the ...
A: The general recommendation for homemade oils flavored with fresh herbs is to make them fresh, store ...
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| plastic button on ham | 10/3/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: My husband cooked the spiral ham for 3 hours never noticing the plastic button on the bottom. The ...
A: According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (part of USDA), if the round plastic bone ...
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| Egg storage | 10/3/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: We were in Europe and Ireland touring, and noticed in the markets and stores, that eggs were stored ...
A: Yes, it is very common to see in Europe and Asia eggs stored at room temperature. For centuries, ...
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| food-safe metals | 10/2/2009 | Carol Schlitt |
Q: 1) for a neighborhood party, a low country boil was cooked in a new aluminum trash can (over ...
A: While it's not recommended to use trash cans for cooking food, at least it was a new one and made of ...
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