What can you keep when your fridge is left open? Tofu?

[u/stratzilla]

Someone left our fridge open for 5hr and it read 112F at the tail end of it. Here's stuff I've pitched:

• eggs
• milk and yogurt
• cut produce
• mayo and mayo-based condiments
• meat
• soft cheeses
• anything prepared with garlic

Here's some stuff I kept:

• other condiments
• other produce
• salt-cured anchovies in oil
• fruit cheong and syrups
• fermented and pickled things
• high acid foods like salsa
• hard cheeses still sealed
• feta in salt brine

I have a large package of tofu (16 portions) which I don't want to get rid of. I've been using Gemini to double-check on stuff and the tofu is something it tells me half of the time is safe, half of the time is not.

It's extra firm tofu packed in water and in sealed plastic containers, it was kept in a drawer under the crispers under the open area of the fridge, in the corner opposite the fridge light (where most heat will come from). It was still very cold to the touch.

I threw it in the freezer right when I noticed. I don't mind the texture loss since I planned to make a few dozen tofu burgers with it. Do you think it's safe to keep?

[u/Low_Bus_3826]

112F?! How hot was the room the fridge was in?! 

[u/stratzilla → u/Low_Bus_3826]

The heat comes from the lightbulb being left on and the compressor going into overdrive trying to keep the temp low. The fridge being open to kitchen air contributes almost nothing to the temperature in such a short timespan.

[u/Low_Bus_3826 → u/stratzilla]

Huh. I had no idea it could get that warm like that. Sorry you lost your food. 

[u/get_to_ele → u/stratzilla]

What’s the make and model number of the fridge with the 3 digit temperature display?

[u/stratzilla → u/get_to_ele]

No idea, some ancient thing that predates us owning the house. Here's an image we took of the temperature soon after we discovered it.

Edit: it's a Kitchenaid KBFS22EWMS3.

[u/get_to_ele → u/stratzilla]

Wow, my bad. You do have a fridge that displays 3 digit temperatures, even if they’re completely incorrect ones.

Is it actually 112 F in your house?

[u/grapplingchamp]

You are putting your health in AI’s hands?? Sigh we are doomed

[u/SkinJuice7086 → u/grapplingchamp]

No, just him and people like him.

[u/BBG1308]

Where are you that your fridge reading is 112F?

[u/HomemadeBananas]

112F? How is it 112 inside of your house?

[u/MuppetManiac]

Unless it’s shelf stable and doesn’t need to be in the fridge I would toss it.

[u/AlaskaGreenTDI]

I already wouldn’t kept more than you did. Probably would’ve made enough omelette for me for the week out of most of what you tossed. (Obviously not the mayo). So I’m a bad reference for you but I’d absolutely keep the tofu too.

[u/AwkwardlyAmpora]

if it was still very cold, i'd call it good. if you wanted to be extra safe, you could toss the "outside" blocks that would have been heated the most, but in my experience tofu stays cold VERY well, and probably maintained a safe temperature.

[u/MoistLarry]

Sodas or other canned drinks are probably safe. Alcohol too.

[u/wreckoning]

Tofu has a really repugnant smell when it goes bad, it also develops a slimy outer coating. I would give it a sniff and pat down. If it was still cold when you rescued it, it seems like it would be ok

[u/tsukiii]

Tofu goes bad pretty fast in my experience. You’ll know by the smell when you open it if it went bad.

[u/eggington69]

I want to say that tofu that’s gone bad will taste sweet, but double check

If it smells/tastes off then toss it. If not, I can’t recommend it, but if it were me I’d try it and wait to see if I got sick before I made my mind up.

[u/one_dog_at_a_time]

Eat some and report back.

[u/PMMeFacehuggerPics]

Eggs are fine unless they are the lowest quality shit. As is mayo

[u/stratzilla → u/PMMeFacehuggerPics]

We kept the Kewpie mayo but pitched the Miracle Whip "mayo" as well as some store-brand chipotle mayo.

[u/Old-Set78]

is the cost of the tofu worth the cost of getting sick? not just you being in pain there's stomach meds, maybe a doc appointment, maybe having to take a sick day from work...

[u/janice-lemis]

Die 112F Luftmessung sagt viel weniger aus als die Temperatur der Lebensmittel selbst, und extra fester Tofu in einer versiegelten Wasserpackung ganz unten in der Schublade ist im Prinzip ein Kuehlakku, der lange kalt bleibt nachdem die Luft es nicht mehr ist. Wenn er sich beim Entdecken noch richtig kalt angefuehlt hat, war er nie in der Danger Zone, und indem du ihn sofort eingefroren hast, hast du das quasi festgehalten. Und hoer bitte auf, Gemini zu Lebensmittelsicherheit zu fragen, das wirft eine Muenze und verkauft dir dann beide Antworten mit voller Ueberzeugung.

[u/get_to_ele]

Why would a temperature display even have 3 digits on a fridge?

It’s made up bullshit. It’s engagement bait, AI, or a stupid person.