Six day old Beef Stew

10 years ago

Daughter just called to ask if her 6 day old Beef Stew was still okay to eat. She said it smelled fine, but wanted my reassurance. I said probably not, so she is throwing it out.

Want to know if what I did tell her was correct?

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nannygoat18

10 years ago

I have different standards for myself and others. I might decide take the risk but would never advise others to do the same. I feel people already know the answer to these kinds of questions but want someone else to take responsibility for the outcome.

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Comments (12)

plllog
10 years ago
I'd say yes. And no. IF it was cooked well to begin with, and stored well, and IF it hadn't started to rot, and IF there were no incidental bad mold starting to grow but not seen, and IF it were thoroughly heated (simmered just below boiling for at least 20 minutes), or if she just has a strong stomach and immune system, it could have been fine. Smelling is a good way to judge actual rot, but since you weren't there yourself, saying yes to a smell test could be dangerous.

Basically, I'd rather send my daughter $20 and have her throw it out, just to be safe. It doesn't matter so much if it were objectively okay or not. We don't take risks with our babies, no matter how grown they are.
chas045
10 years ago
Well, I would have almost certainly eaten it, but I believe I'm one who '... has a strong stomach and immune system'. I almost always have leftover stew, and occasionally even end up with a third serving, although that is pushing it. However, we are usually 'eating', rather than 'dining' with the wine, candles and extended conversation that could lead to leaving it out for an inappropriately extended period.

Regarding the smell test: I would bet that your daughter (being younger) has a better sense of smell and therefore better equipped to detect odd odors.
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plllog
10 years ago
Good point, Chas! About the younger sniffer. I was only thinking about the experience to know what is the faint whiff of rot. :)
grainlady_ks
10 years ago
I'd get her some freezer containers ;-).

-Do they know if their refrigerator is even a food-safe temperature of 40°F or colder? If it's warmer than that, trash it - especially if they placed it in the refrigerator while still hot or really warm.

-Food that contains potentially deadly bacteria doesn't necessarily "smell bad", so that's not a good test.

-How was the food handled when it was placed into the refrigerator? Was it quick-chilled using an ice water bath in the sink (the prefered method), or was it left out at room temperature (the not-so-great method), or something else?

-Was it reheated in the pot several times and placed back in the refrigerator each time?

Too many variables for me to give it a clean bill of health - I'd trash it and call it one of life's lessons. If they are going to consume it, I would certainly follow pilllog's method, except it needs to come to a complete boil, not below boiling, in order to kill bacteria. By the time it's goes through a vigorous boil, there really isn't any real nutritional value left in it - so why bother wasting time and cooking energy?

-Grainlady
nannygoat18
10 years ago
When in doubt, throw it out.

Especially if DD is questioning:).
lindac92
10 years ago
Well....I would for sure have eaten it.....but I would have refrigerated it promptly after dishing out the first meal....
Started to rot??? Really? ROT?? as in become a host to maggots??
Yes bacteria can grow that you can't smell and they can kill you!! But most often those bacteria aren't found in leftover cooked beef stew. And boiling that stew for 20 minutes may kill the bacteria but not any toxins they create.
And "rotten" food I sure can smell....even slightly spoiled food.
However....since your daughter felt the need to ask...I am sure I would also have told her to feed it to the garbage disposer.

There are so many variables in food "longevity" and bacterial growth....besides the temperature of your refrig....things like how long you cooked it, the Ph of the gravy...wine? balsamic vinegar? lemon?....and how long it was at room temp before you put it away.
User
10 years ago
I would have told her throw it out. Technically it might still be safe, but as well as safe, I want it to taste as good as it did the first or second day. Six days old, no way.

~Ann
annie1992
10 years ago
I'd have eaten it without fear, but as Ann T mentions, the quality has most certainly suffered. And, if it doesn't taste delicious any more, why bother?

Annie
dedtired
10 years ago
I ate week old chicken pie for lunch yesterday. No problems and it tasted great. Still, I will chuck anything that is truly suspicious.
Terry Chute
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
My mum used to make beef stew last ages at lea 5 days I'm 65 so didn kill me iI know she would add veg to it every day to bulk it up and rehea ever day till the new veg was cooked to be honest it tasted better each day iI still do it one in a while esspecially in winter and still hear to tell the tale
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Thoroughly reheating every day for five days isn't the same as keeping for six days then reheating. I'm a skinflint but six days is too long imo. Unless it was kept very cold and chilled immediately after cooking.

Six day old Beef Stew

nannygoat18

Comments (12)

plllog

chas045

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