Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stale

Keeping cake fresh while it's on display

sarelicar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:11:23 -0800

Problem: Cakes on display that go a bit stale where they've been cut. Solution: Plastic, hinged, see-through inserts that can be placed inside missing wedges to keep edges fresh. I know they exist but probably just don't know the proper terminology because my searches (for cake keeper, cake saver) come up fruitless except for entire cake boxes with lids which is not what I seek.

I'd like to buy these to use in lieu of using throwaway wax paper.

Thanks guys!

Tuna sandwich longevity?

seiryuu — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:50:20 -0800

I made a tuna sandwich for lunch and left it at home. Will it still be edible? I made a tuna sandwich - the tuna fish is mixed with mayo and pickles, and the sandwich is in a closed ziploc bag... I prepared it about 7:30am and wonder whether it will be safe to eat at 6 tonight when I get home. I live 15+ miles from work so driving back at lunch time would cost about as much in gas as getting something at Quizno's.

Does bread ever get too stale to be useful for something?

Caviar — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:15:21 -0800

Does bread ever get too stale to be useful for something? Most of the breadcrumb recipes (if you can call them that) I've seen call for "just stale" bread, or stale bread pieces that are collected in the freezer. But what if you have no freezer and it's been sitting on the counter for a week or even a month, and completely dried out (not moldy)?

Is that bread still usable for breadcrumbs? For other things?

Sitting on a goldmine?

777 — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:52:07 -0800

Why does my bread become *hard* when stale, yet my crackers (graham, oreos) become *soft* when stale?

What do I do with alllll this bread??

Lisa S — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:55:05 -0800

What can I do with just-turned-stale bread, besides make French toast?

What's the best way to keep a cake from going stale?

bpt — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:22:35 -0800

What's the best way to keep a cake from going stale? I just spent several hours making a cake for a friend's unbirthday. Unfortunately, it turns out that we won't be able to meet until this weekend. Will the cake stay fresh and edible until then, or should I remake it? What's the best way to keep it fresh and moist?

Can protein powder go off?

Rc — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 17:45:39 -0800

A while ago I bought some protein powder; work and study conspired against me and it never got used. The best before date is February. My question is will the expiry of the best before date make it any less effective? Is it possible for it to go off?

How to get clean shirts to not develop stale smell?

RoseovSharon — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 18:46:15 -0800

How can I keep the clean t-shirts hanging in my closet from getting that stinky/stale/sour smell? I don't have cabinet space to fold and put my t-shirts away. So after I wash them and they are fully dry, I put them on a hanger and hang them in the closet. If I don't wear a shirt soon though, after say about two or more weeks, the shirts develop that sour "I've been hanging in the closet for too long" smell. I don't have crazy b.o. that seeps into the fabric or anything like that, and there is nothing unusual about my closet that would cause this... in fact it's happened to me when I lived elsewhere, so I can't blame the closet.

Is this caused by the type of detergent I use (usually earth-friendly types without fragrance or color) and/or is there something better to use (that's still non-toxic and not evil for the environment or my skin) that can help prevent this? Or is there some special technique for keeping clothes smelling fresh in the closet that I never learned?