This isn't a disaster perse, but I wasn't sure where else to post it. And maybe it's a disaster in the making.
Disclaimer: this cake is for me, not for a client or any other party. Just me and a few people in my house. So don't ask yourself "would I give this to my client or serve this at a wedddin"" but rather, "would I myself eat this if it were in front of me and looking very delicious?"
I frosted a cake last night, and, as per my usual practice, I left it on the counter overnight to let it settle (I NEVER have bulges anymore since letting my cakes sit overnight before putting in the fridge). About 5:30 am I wake up in a kind of frenzy, remember that the cake had a pastry cream filling (cooked milk, eggs, sugar) that should probably be refigerated. So, it was out on the counter a total of about six hours in a 60 degree kitchen. Am I playing with food poisining fire, or WOULD YOU EAT THIS CAKE?
Thanks
I personally don't take chances. I've had food poisoning and it just isn't worth it to me! I'm not saying it's not safe to eat, but I wouldn't do it.
Just wonder though, pastry cream is cooked...and isn't that the same thing they fill donuts with (bavarian cream or custard) and let sit out? I'm really careful with food and would be too nervous to throw up to eat it (probably) but I just wondered.
If you've ever eaten restaurant food, then you've already eaten food more dangerous than your pastry cream filling.
Just wonder though, pastry cream is cooked...and isn't that the same thing they fill donuts with (bavarian cream or custard) and let sit out? I'm really careful with food and would be too nervous to throw up to eat it (probably) but I just wondered.
That's what I was thinking--it's cooked! And it has lots of orange in it, and doesn't acid preserve? And doesn't the sugar preserve? Well, anyway, these are the things I've been telling myself.
Ever since I spent a summer in West Africa many years ago, my ideas about food hygiene have really changed. The women would wake before dawn and prepare food, then sell it all day in the sun with no way to keep it out of the danger zone. It had meat, hard boiled eggs, rice, etc. I would arrive at 6:30pm after my work with a local NGO, and this is what I would eat, with flies on it and everything. I NEVER got sick. I have not abandoned my standard of cleanliess here, but I sometimes think that our hygiene obsession as more to do with tort law than with actual danger. But that's another subject...
Yep, I'd eat it without batting an eyelid. I wouldn't sell it to someone, but I'd eat it myself.
Not only would I eat it, I'd likely have seconds. We're neighbors. I'll be right over with my own plate and fork, so you won't have to clean up after me.
I, too, would eat it. The custard was cooked, to a temperature hot enough to destroy any bacteria in the eggs (also known as pasteurization). Plus, you are right about sugar and citric acid being preservatives. Further, it's not as if your kitchen was 90 degrees, it was 60 degrees and bacteria needs a warm temperatures (close to body temps) to grow. So, go and enjoy your delicious cake!!
Yes I'd eat it. I'd take a tiny taste to be sure it is not sour but most likely it is just fine and would finish it off.
I think I've had enough positive responses that I'm going to go ahead and bury my face in it. Will let you know within a few days if I survived
Years ago I fried some chicken for my aging Grandmother, the next day I come over to make breakfast and find the leftover chicken in the oven. I fussed at my Grandma about the dangers of eating food not kept at the right temps. She laughed at me and said "Lord honey what do you think we did before refrideration." Didn't kill her and I doubt your cake will make you sick, enjoy!
Ever since I spent a summer in West Africa many years ago, my ideas about food hygiene have really changed. The women would wake before dawn and prepare food, then sell it all day in the sun with no way to keep it out of the danger zone. It had meat, hard boiled eggs, rice, etc. I would arrive at 6:30pm after my work with a local NGO, and this is what I would eat, with flies on it and everything. I NEVER got sick.
I swear this is a genetic thing. Either that or it's a super immune system based on how you grew up. One side of my family always left food out all the time and ate it without getting sick. I just look at it and get food poisoning! I got my genes from the other side!
Just wonder though, pastry cream is cooked...and isn't that the same thing they fill donuts with (bavarian cream or custard) and let sit out? I'm really careful with food and would be too nervous to throw up to eat it (probably) but I just wondered.
That's what I was thinking--it's cooked! And it has lots of orange in it, and doesn't acid preserve? And doesn't the sugar preserve? Well, anyway, these are the things I've been telling myself.
I'm not an expert on the subject, but I don't think the fillings in the donuts that are left out are made with "real" ingredients. Probably something similar to the bettercreme fillings. I think cooked pastry cream is still considered perishable.
ronronneuse- How is it orange and acid in a pastry cream?
OP - if you fill your cakes with perishable fillings, you can speed up the settling process by placing something heavy on top of your cake (of course with something like plastic wrap in between).
Leah_s shared in a thread a long time ago I found very helpful on this subject:
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-633571-newest.html+trick
I've seen that thread, thanks for sharing. It doesn't work as well for me as just letting them sit at room temperature for a day. I don't normally have creamy fillings though. My cakes are quite soft, though, and my frosting too, often, so weighing them down has sometimes resulted in spooging. Sorry, gross word.
The cream is orange flavored--so lots and lots of orange peel and juice (and extract, though that probably doesn't count acidity-wise).
Ever since I spent a summer in West Africa many years ago, my ideas about food hygiene have really changed. The women would wake before dawn and prepare food, then sell it all day in the sun with no way to keep it out of the danger zone. It had meat, hard boiled eggs, rice, etc. I would arrive at 6:30pm after my work with a local NGO, and this is what I would eat, with flies on it and everything. I NEVER got sick.
I swear this is a genetic thing. Either that or it's a super immune system based on how you grew up. One side of my family always left food out all the time and ate it without getting sick. I just look at it and get food poisoning! I got my genes from the other side!
I'm sure that's true, rlowry03. I've heard that it depends in part on your blood type, and that type O is especially hardy. hehe, guess what type I am
LOL!! Well...after you have sufficiently "buried your face in it", if it just so happens that I, along with many others were wrong in our estimation of it edibility, I guarantee you that it will NOT take a "couple of days" for you to find out!! More like a couple of hours!! Which is another dead give away for a diagnosis of food poisoning. It pretty much hits you immediately.
Anyway, good luck. Though I don't think you'll need it. Just enjoy your cake...
When in doubt, I feed it to my husband (but not my kids) . He's adventurous and hasn't gotten sick yet.
I like the website www.stilltasty.com . Not sure it could answer this specific question, but it does really come in handy for many things.
Yes, I would eat it. The ingredients were cooked. There was probably a high sugar content which, as has already been mentioned, acts as a preservative.
So, how was it???
If you've ever eaten restaurant food, then you've already eaten food more dangerous than your pastry cream filling.
lol so true!
Because the eggs were cooked I would eat it. Where do you live I'll come over for a piece right now and be your guinea pig
I'm not suggesting that everyone go out and eat contaminated food, but I will point out that much like how vaccinations work, immunity to germs and such comes from exposure to them. If everyone on the planet ate completely sterilized food with no exposure to any of the 'bad' stuff, then whole populations would be wiped out when and if just a small amount of bacteria were to appear because our immune systems would not know how to fight it off.
Like I said..NOT recommending it,! Just an interesting fact. Makes me wonder if so many food allergies exist today because of our attempts at total sterilization.
Food for thought! (pun intended).
Sure i would eat it, and my family wouldn,t stand by an wait for me to ALLOW them to eat it.They would jump right in a eat it too.lol!!!
I used to have a very resilient stomach, then after 2 bad bouts of food poisoning (no idea what caused them!), i am now very sensitive to food bugs....but i would still eat it
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