Food That Won't Die And Scary Things In Your Refrigerator

[gdf]

I always get nostalgic about Marshmallow Peeps as Easter approaches.

In my old job, the stress was so high my colleagues and I used to do some strange things to alleviate the anxiety. My friend there, who had a pretty severe case of combat-related PTSD, used to pin Easter Peeps on the bulletin board in his office and see how long they would last: the record was almost a year. They never got gross or moldy or faded. :eek:

This always makes me think about food preservatives and how some "groceries" last indefinitely in the cupboard or the refrigerator. Anyone have any winners to go with Easter Marshmallow Peeps? :think: Feel like confessing about that unidentifiable items on the back shelf that is so unrecognizable you can even remember when you bought it?

I always wonder about the indestructibility of:

coffee mate

Twinkies

I once had some coffee mate for like, three months, and the scary thing was it still tasted OK.

 

[anthony]

What is coffee mate? Just out of curiosity... I don't actually know what a twinkie is either, but I know they are big in the US.

 

[Tiger Kitten]

coffee mate is coffee creamer stuff. Twinkies are cream filled sponge cakes that never go stale.

Actually those peeps are better stale. My old roommate had some pork chops in the freezer that were so old the date was worn off. He claimed they were 3 years old when I met him like 6 years ago. He refused to let them be thrown out. He also had some frozen dinner thing that had an expiration date of sometime in '97. Even when he took all my money away and I had to scrounge for food for a month I wouldn't touch those two items.

Tiger

 

[catjudo]

That whole Twinkie thing is a myth. I have seen twinkies that were still sealed in an unopen container, kept in a pantry for about a month that when opened were found to be all green and moldy. Twinkies do NOT last forever.

As far as coffee creamers...are you talking the powdered kind or the refrigerated liquid kind? The powdered kind I would imagine would have a nearly indefinite shelf life if kept away from moisture, etc. The refrigerated, liquid kind (for those not in the US...it's just what TK said, coffee creamer but they often come in a variety of flavors that you're adding to your coffee at the same time) they packages always say it's best to use within two weeks of opening but I've definitely seen it last for months with no noticeable difference in taste or quality. Kind of scary.

 

[Marlene]

My husband (prior to being that) and an old friend of his had a contest going. Both young soldiers at the time. They would eat off of a plate and then leave it in the sink under the 'science' of microbes. They figured that the leftover food would be exposed to bacteria that would eat up what was on the plate and when the bateria died, the plate would be clean and there was no need to wash it. I think I said something like 'Uh-huh. Go wash the dishes.'

My personal scary thing in my fridge is a bowl of leftover cool whip from Thanksgiving in the back and bottom of the fridge. I see it and I'm scared to death to reach in for it for fear it might reach back.

Peeps!!! OMG...peeps! I was given a box of peeps by my oldest daughter for my birthday (she knows me!) and half way through I called my other daughter to take them away before I made myself sick. Peeps are wonderful, though.

Lisa

 

[anni]

Did you know that coffee mate can blow up? Seriously! In the states, there's a science show called Myth Busters, and there was a segment where they used some copious amount of coffee mate, ignited something, and caused this huge blast. My husband is a chemist by training originally and explained it to me but I still have no idea what happened.

Stale peeps make good target practice for 11 year olds and thier pellet guns. I know because last year peep corpses were all over the back yard until June.

 

[Marlene]

Stale peeps make good target practice for 11 year olds and thier pellet guns. I know because last year peep corpses were all over the back yard until June.

*gasp* The horror...that absolute horror of it all. Those poor, defenseless little peeps had no chance. The least you could have done was given them a decent burial. LOL

 

[gdf]

Good description of coffee mate for Anthony you guys. It is an American thing I guess. Since they make it liquid and powered it is a toss-up of what you want in your coffee: dry powdery stuff that never devolves and floats on the surface in little white clumps or the liquid which is essentially palm kernel oil with those wonderful flavorings. (Correct. Was referring to the liquid kind Catjudo.)

Twinkies are a real mystery to me. They are what we would term a "snack cake." They fall into the ubiquitous category of "junk food" which includes, but is not limited to, Moon Pies, HoHo's (and no gentlemen, that's not what it sounds like), Hostess fruit pies, etc. Urban folklore says that a Twinkie will last a hundred years but I believe that Catjudo has testified to the opposite--great detective work Cat! Don't feel bad Anthony--I have never been able to pin down what Veggomite is (did I spell that right?). I would love to hear what it is.

Anni, I am going to be paranoid now (fridg-a-noia. Dr. Dopemhiyer, why oh why did you have to leave your practice!?) about my coffee mate now--I will be listening for weird noises emanating from my fridge in the middle of the night. Ah, something to keep me awake other than PTSD.

A Peep littered back yard...that is a mental picture that's not gonna leave soon. It's odd they lasted until June...sorta says a lot if even a raccoon or a possum won't chow down on an abandoned peep. Oddly though, there are Peep eaters in abundance. I admire your culinary bravery. Funny how culture, location and family influence affects what we eat. So Peep lovers enjoy--they are out in the stores everywhere. That reminds me, it that really Cool Whip lurking in the back of your fridge Lisa...or could just be pretending to be coolwhip until one day you reach in and...OMG it's got me! HELPPPPPPPPPPPP!

It was a long and weird day at work...thanks for letting me be off the wall tonight : )

 

[catjudo]

That reminds me, it that really Cool Whip lurking in the back of your fridge Lisa...or could just be pretending to be coolwhip until one day you reach in and...OMG it's got me! HELPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Great! Just the help Lisa needed. As if she wasn't already scared enough to clean out her refrigerator, you've gone and validated her fears. That cool whip may be sitting there until next Thanksgiving now. LOL :rofl:

 

[kers]

You know those potato rolls, like for hot dogs and hamburgers? I have left bags of them in my pantry for MONTHS without them turning green. *Shudder*

I love the videos of ways to destroy peeps: microwave, boil, etc. Heh.

 

[suzie q]

Everyone is going to think I'm sick and hopeless...(and I can't believe that I'm telling you this)

My deep freeze kept my dead cat for a year until my dog died and I buried them both together. They were best buds. It made sense at the time! All my friends still give me grief over my Buster.

For all those torturing those cute little peeps...I'm telling PETA on all you cruel bas***ds!! Actually, anything marshmallow is ucky to me! How about the Cadbury eggs? If they are full of peanut butter, they really last. Can pop them in microwave and soften!

Thanks for the laughs!!
suzie q

 

[amethist]

Hi suzie

My first thought on reading this was actually "AAww how sweet". Not something I would do, but I do understand your thought's behind this.

Amethist