Please let me eat them

May 14, 2021 8:50 AM

I ordered frozen pastries from Porto's in LA. FedEx had a shipping delay and they were a day late. The dry ice fully evaporated, my Thermapen is reading about 25 degrees in the middle of the empenadas, but I can crumble the dough with my hands. Porto's says to toss and they'll replace. But I have 4 boxes of empenadas and potato balls IN MY HOUSE RIGHT NOW. I've dreamed of this since moving away from LA. Can I eat them?
posted by hwyengr to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

Response by poster: 25 degrees Fahrenheit, btw.
posted by hwyengr at 8:52 AM on May 14, 2021

So they are frozen, basically, since they are below 32 degrees? IIRC empenada dough is crumbly before it's baked. I would cook and eat these.

Porto's undoubtedly has a blanket policy for all situations like this because trying to game out the individual cases is foolish. Cook, eat and do not sue.
posted by Frowner at 8:54 AM on May 14, 2021 [17 favorites]

I would eat them. I might not feed them to a child or passing stranger, but I would eat them and honestly not expect any repercussions.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:56 AM on May 14, 2021 [9 favorites]

So ... they were shipped frozen, and while the dry ice is gone, the empanadas themselves are still frozen? Is there any possibility they could have thawed and re-frozen? Because if not then ... I think you've received the thing you ordered in useable condition. Personally, I'd eat them.
posted by gauche at 9:03 AM on May 14, 2021 [3 favorites]

So as not to delay in case these are not acceptable, have Porto's reship. Today, while waiting, try one or three of them. Wait an hour. If no repercussions, eat more. Then, in two days, you will have even more! empenadas for everyone!
posted by AugustWest at 9:36 AM on May 14, 2021 [11 favorites]

Have Porto's reship. Eat what you have while waiting for delivery.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:03 AM on May 14, 2021

They're still frozen, so I don't really see the problem. And you're going to cook them, so I really don't see the problem.

Getting another whole box is just a bonus, IMO.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:07 AM on May 14, 2021 [2 favorites]

Even if the dough is partly thawed (which is unlikely), I wouldn't worry about it. I would eat them. I grew up in a family that hated wasting food. I've eaten worse and suffered no ill effects.
posted by alex1965 at 11:59 AM on May 14, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Well, I went ALL IN on throwing caution to the wind. Hope to see you all tomorrow!
posted by hwyengr at 12:27 PM on May 14, 2021 [27 favorites]

Response by poster: Well, there was a little gastro upset last night, but I'm a scientist, dammit.
posted by hwyengr at 8:27 AM on May 15, 2021 [3 favorites]

Then I guess the question is whether the upset was from eating a lot of empanadas and potato balls or from the temperature - luckily you'll have some more coming and can experiment again.
posted by Frowner at 10:13 AM on May 15, 2021 [2 favorites]

The potato balls, for those who don't know Porto's, also have meat in them. Hope you're feeling better, hwyengr.
posted by Scram at 10:03 PM on May 15, 2021 [1 favorite]