If in doubt, throw it out

[pne]

This evening, I wanted to eat some salad (feta cheese, cucumber, and tomato) that Stella had made me yesterday.

Yesterday, I was feeling so full that I didn't eat it. I had planned to put it in the fridge overnight but forgot, so it stood on the kitchen table. The kitchen wasn't heated, so it was a bit cool in there and I hoped it would still be all right today.

But then I took the Tupperware container out, the lid was bulging, and I wasn't sure whether that is a bad sign or not. Maybe a temperature difference causing the air inside to expand? Or maybe gas-producing bacteria?

I tried a little of the cheese but my nose was stuffed so I couldn't taste much. I figured it might be better to just chuck it -- better safe than sorry.

Anyone have any idea what might have caused the lid to bulge? Is this a known result of food going bad?

Comments

[timwi.livejournal.com]

I can't answer your question, but I have a question to you. Why can't you taste when your nose is blocked? I mean, I know that's the case, I've experienced that myself, but... why is that so? Logically there shouldn't be any connection between the nose and the taste receptors on the tongue, or should there be?

[haela.livejournal.com]

There is a great deal of connection between your sense of smell and your sense of taste. That's why you see people on TV hold their noses before they have to take bad-tasting medicine. If there's a foul smell in the air while you're eating food then the food will taste bad as well. I think this is an old "defense" tactic in our bodies, because food that has gone bad may not taste bad but it will smell bad, so the senses are connected in order to prevent us from eating things that are not good. When I was in grade school we did an experiment where they would blindfold us, put something under our nose to smell one smell, and then we would taste something and we would taste whatever we were smelling, even though what we were tasting was completely different. For example if they put a fruit smell under my nose and gave me a vegetable, the vegetable would taste sweet.

[haela.livejournal.com]

It was probably the air pressure - if it was warmer or cooler inside the tupperware than outside then I think the pressure would cause it to distort a little. If your kitchen was cool all day the food should have still been good. I only worry about bulges in canned food. :)