Don’t take a chance on eating potluck leftovers

Dear Heloise: One recent Sunday, a lady in our group brought a container of potato salad from the store for a potluck. It sat out on our kitchen counter for probably a couple of hours, and about a fourth of it was eaten.

She said she would put it back in our refrigerator and serve it again the following Sunday. I said that potato salad has a reputation for being really perishable, and I didn’t think it should be kept for a whole week.

She was irritated and now thinks I’m some kind of food-phobic old lady. A few other people there agreed with her plan to save the salad for a week, and a couple of them shared my opinion.

I would like to know what food experts would say about the matter. Thank you for your input. Pamela, via e-mail

Hmmm ... my first thought is “a couple of hours” is probably past the “don’t take a chance” time zone. Here’s the information according to the Food and Drug Administration guidelines: Cold food should be kept at 40 degrees or cooler until serving time.

After serving, cold food can sit out for up to two hours, but if the temperature is above 90 degrees, one hour is the maximum for safety. Food-poisoning cases are most often caused with homemade foods, but store-bought can cause the same problems. If left at room temperature for long periods of time, bacteria will grow to produce a toxin. You and your family could get food poisoning, so throw it out. I am with you — it’s probably best not to save it a week to serve again. Why take a chance? Heloise

Dear Heloise: After juicing a lemon, put the halves in the freezer. Then when you need lemon rind, it’s easier to take the rind off the frozen lemons. Mary Lynn Wilson, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: We pick up takeout food several times a week. I keep a large hot/cold bag (found in the freezer section of a grocery store for about $1.50) in each car and place our to-go food in this bag. The food arrives at home nice and hot or cold, depending on the items. Tina Pantusa, San Antonio

Dear Heloise: I never seem to get around to eating the healthy yogurts I buy. So instead of eating them, I drink them! I spoon the yogurt into a glass, add some cold water, ice cubes, stir, and voil ° — a delicious, refreshing treat that I can drink while I’m doing other things.

A friend saw me doing this, tried it, and now she tells me that’s her drink of choice when she’s outside gardening. June Brill, San Diego

June, we tested your hint here in Heloise Central. We added too much water the first time, so add only a little water until you get it to the consistency you like. We also added some sugar substitute, and then we drank it down! Heloise

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate