Can they eat it ver. 687
July 18, 2018 1:27 PM Subscribe
Hot car + weird bottle + feeding kids makes me wonder if I should be paranoid and just buy a bunch of new ranch?
Ranch dressing which I purchased a few bottles today for an event. They were unopened and left in my car accidentally, pretty much in direct heat. When I discovered them a few hours later, they were really warm to the touch. I thought it should be fine, but the bottles (which are plastic) are sort of...swollen? I remember them being quite flat and normal when purchased, but now they’re puffy and squeezing them makes them bounce back quite a bit. They’re not botulism puffy, but just puffier than when I purchased them. Kids will be eating from this ranch so I’m wondering if I should just go buy all new ones. Or am I overthinking it? Why would they puff in heat? Nothing on the bottle says keep out of heat or a cool place like I’ve seen on other bottles.
Ranch dressing which I purchased a few bottles today for an event. They were unopened and left in my car accidentally, pretty much in direct heat. When I discovered them a few hours later, they were really warm to the touch. I thought it should be fine, but the bottles (which are plastic) are sort of...swollen? I remember them being quite flat and normal when purchased, but now they’re puffy and squeezing them makes them bounce back quite a bit. They’re not botulism puffy, but just puffier than when I purchased them. Kids will be eating from this ranch so I’m wondering if I should just go buy all new ones. Or am I overthinking it? Why would they puff in heat? Nothing on the bottle says keep out of heat or a cool place like I’ve seen on other bottles.
They puff in heat because the plastic softens and heat causes the dressing to expand a bit. I'm sure they're fine if they're in factory packaging.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:44 PM on July 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by oneirodynia at 1:44 PM on July 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
For new an unopened, I'd have no concerns about their safety, but maybe I wouldn't eat warm ranch...
posted by advicepig at 1:44 PM on July 18, 2018
posted by advicepig at 1:44 PM on July 18, 2018
Most substances, including the water, oil, and air inside the bottle, expand when heated.
posted by drlith at 2:09 PM on July 18, 2018
posted by drlith at 2:09 PM on July 18, 2018
I don't like to eat hot greasy stuff that's steeped in plastic because I'm paranoid about phthalates. This situation would give me the creeps.
posted by Don Pepino at 2:54 PM on July 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 2:54 PM on July 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I put the ranch in the fridge but I’m going to buy new ones just in case... Will not forget them this time!
posted by socky bottoms at 3:33 PM on July 18, 2018
posted by socky bottoms at 3:33 PM on July 18, 2018
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On the other hand, ranch dressing is relatively inexpensive and ubiquitous, so I think the $6 or whatever would be well worth alleviating any anxiety about serving potentially less-good ranch dressing to kids and/or adults.
posted by General Malaise at 1:32 PM on July 18, 2018 [6 favorites]