serious question

[araby]

I do not like my food cold, such as condiments, I leave them out. except mayo of course.

I have been putting my pickles in the refrigerator after I open them, because that is what the jar tells me to do. I don't want my pickles cold. My teeth are sensitive and I would rather eat them at room temperature. Same thing with my salsa.

what are the risks of getting sick because I don't put my pickles and/or salsa in the refrigerator? I know there is a risk, but how *much* of a risk?

[Gargamellow]

use Act II mouthwash...it restores your teeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Xaiveir]

After you open either one of those, it does have a possibility of growing mold and other things. Its not if you will get sick, its when you will get sick is the true question. Eventually you will.

Alternatives, take your salsa/pickles etc out and put it in the microwave on the dethaw setting. It raises the temperature of the item, at an even pace, unlike just nuking it regularly. It would take about 20 seconds to heat up, so its not that big of a deal. Better than being sick for a day or two.

[Jay]

I don't like cold pickles either and I leave my pickles in my cupboard. As long as you limit the exposure to air and close that jar soon as you're done you should be ok. Same with salsa. What I do is I wrap the jar top with saran then I close the jar. I've been doing this for the past 2 years and so far I'm still alive.

[araby]

hm..good ideas thank you

well, except the mouthwash, <3 garg, only because I typically tell my patients not to use mouthrinses at all unless they are alcohol-free and even then, they are just money schemes.

the only one I support is the one they've come out with recently that allows the kiddies to see the plaque they've left on their teeth like the disclosing tablets they use in dental offices.

[Gargamellow]

Larry Larsen, who is always on the cutting edge of sound reasoning (OK, usually his reasoning is sound), posed a question to me yesterday. "Why do people refrigerate pickles?" he asked.

Further, he points out that many of us jam our refrigerators with ketchup, mustard and other things that restaurants leave out on the tables for hours and hours with no apparent harm.

And any number of sources suggests to NOT refrigerate bread. Preparedpantry.com says, "By the way, never refrigerate bread. Bread will stale faster in the refrigerator than on the counter." Breadnet.net agrees.

Granted, some of those fancy refrigerated pickles say they need to be refrigerated on the label, but I think it's just a gimmick. I don't know what has changed in the last 20 years that would require them being cold all of a sudden. Lots of people seem to have the same question.

[araby]

thank you =)

I mean, they come from the ground. why in the world would we need to refrigerate them, other than what they've pickled them in.

[Gargamellow]

and by the way act 2 is flouride mouthwash and DOES rebuild your teeth..which will lessen the pain of cold..i know because I put it to the test after my dentist suggested it...at least give it a try

[Darcler]

I'm a label nazi. If something says refridgerate, I refridgerate. Sell by date = experation date to me, so the milk gets thrown out the day on the jug.

[Gargamellow]

milk is one thing..but a lot of products are good until WAY after the expiration date.........

I am like darcler and I don't use them myself..but I know that salvage stores make a lot of money that way

[Martrae]

Pickles are...um...pickled...this preserves them so they last longer.

Unless they are sweet pickles there probably isn't a reason to refrigerate.