mayonnaise question

[malkin]

And the reason to refrigerate after opening is that the cool temperatures keep the cooties from reproducing as quickly. You'll still get a few cooties, but not so many as to make you sick (usually).

[FunSize]

There are some mayonaises that dont even say they need to be refrigerated after opening. They would have these out on the tables at my college cafeteria. I was weirded out by it too. I just figured it was probably preserved enough to be fine. I only made a couple of sandwiches and no food poisoning. Also.... I think it was hellmans... or dukes... in a squeeze, upside down bottle.

[Possegal]

Mayo isn't as 'dangerous' as some people seem to think. That reputation comes from homemade mayo and the raw egg in it. Commercial mayo has pasteurized egg in it and then the oil/water composition and pH of the commercial mayo actually do not support microbial growth very well. Not that you still shouldn't refrigerate after opening or anything. I just notice that mayo seems to get singled out as the worrisome product and commercial mayo really isn't. I seem to have this conversation with my brother every family picnic.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...9/ai_66881140/

[ny biker]

I once read that the real problem is when you add protein to it -- eggs, chicken, etc. That is when it is most important to keep it refrigerated.

[OakLeaf]

It's possible to pasteurize eggs at home for making mayo or eggnog. The Joy of Cooking has directions.

Personally, I buy pastured local eggs only, wash them before cracking if the shells or the carton don't seem clean, and don't worry about it.

[malkin]

...Personally, I buy pastured local eggs only, wash them before cracking if the shells or the carton don't seem clean, and don't worry about it...

I do the same. A pint of mayo lasts us about a month, and even I, the queen of food poisoning have not been sick from it.

[OakLeaf]

I never buy mayo. I don't eat it in enough quantity to justify the purchase when it's so easy to make. Even one egg makes more mayo than I normally use unless I'm doing something like bringing deviled eggs to a potluck.