Recently we had a call from a customer who had purchased a particular item from us, and the customer complained that the item was ‘spoiled’.
The item was just cooked when the customer picked it up, and the customer’s call came in seven days after the purchase. Apparently, the food was placed in a refrigerator and seven days later the customer found that it was smelling strange.
When we sell any food item (except our frozen convenience packs), we assume that it is going to be consumed immediately, or when the customer gets home, or later that day. If we find out that the food is going to be consumed on another day, we advise the customer on how to keep their food safe.
In this post we take the opportunity now to offer this advice on food safety, to you and all readers.
Once food is cooked and it ‘cools out’, bacteria start to develop. Bacterial growth is slow at first, but if that item is not refrigerated at the correct temperature, or kept hot at the right temperature, (at or above 60 degrees centigrade), the bacteria develop at a rapid pace and the food might go bad. So, if you are not going to eat the food immediately, please refrigerate it, or keep it hot in an oven.
Keep your refrigerator at or below 4 degrees C. However, If you stuff your refrigerator, or you go in and out of it constantly the temperature goes up way beyond 4 degrees and bacteria develops. Older refrigerators are sometimes unable to keep the correct temperature.
When you buy items like curries, it may be packed in small food containers. If you put it in the fridge sealed in those containers, the temperature remains high for a long period of time and by the end of the day your food can start to deteriorate. Empty your item in a ware container, let it cool down a bit, then place it in the refrigerator.
If you plan to use the food days later, you are best advised to freeze it and then reheat in a pot before using. Using the microwave changes the taste of some food items. Eg. Chicken can taste ‘gamey’ after microwaving.
At Alima’s we do not use preservatives in any of our items, not even in breads or pastries. So please bear this in mind.
Other bits of advice: Do not leave your food for long periods of time in hot cars. Also, do not leave it out on the kitchen counter for long periods of time.
The staff at Alima’s takes this opportunity to wish you a happy summer and safe eating!
