quote:

Originally posted by Aquilon:
Also, in a related aside, you shouldn't eat squid anyway. Squid is not food. It's bait.

You just haven't had it prepared properly!

quote:

Merry Christmas!

Too You also!

Thanks to all for the advice, and Merry Christmas to you all.

quote:

I shouldn't have to worry about it, and just toss the stuff in the trash, but I'm being told I can't risk upsetting the in-laws.

That is crazy. In laws always do stupid shit when they come to visit. You can politely tell them about their mistake. What happens when Father in Law does something really bad like leave the toilet seat up??

.
Bacteria will grow when the food's temperature is between 40 & 140 F

Devise a test, grab an ice cube or something you have in the freezer that might approximate frozen shrimp & squid - leave it out on the counter taking its temp at 2 hrs and again at 4 hrs.

Hopefully this will be a cooked dish that will exceed 140F and not pre-cooked shrimp cocktail or squid sushi

.

Is it a bacterial issue or something else? The OP said the squid was going to be sauteed then cooked in red sauce. That would seem to eliminate bacteria.

Bacteria load is just one factor of food borne illness.

Food spoilage is also caused by bacteria feeding on the food and leaving behind toxins.

That's why you can't just cook rotted meat to make it better again.

So you did the right thing and saved the day, but you are in still in trouble? Better to offend unintentionally than risk poisoning an entire family at Christmastime.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

I shouldn't have to worry about it, and just toss the stuff in the trash, but I'm being told I can't risk upsetting the in-laws.

That is crazy. In laws always do stupid shit when they come to visit. You can politely tell them about their mistake. What happens when Father in Law does something really bad like leave the toilet seat up??

To be fair I'm the visitor, not them. However, it boggles the mind that despite being asked repeatedly to move the items to the fridge, they put them on the counter. It is also frustrating the concern they might be embarrassed by the error might have overriden all logic about safety. Hell, I think its ridiculous I had to sneak out to replace the food. They need to learn from their mistake.

quote:

To be fair I'm the visitor, not them. However, it boggles the mind that despite being asked repeatedly to move the items to the fridge, they put them on the counter. It is also frustrating the concern they might be embarrassed by the error might have overriden all logic about safety. Hell, I think its ridiculous I had to sneak out to replace the food. They need to learn from their mistake.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Could not agree more. If you do not put a stop to it, this kind of stuff gets worse over time.

My Catholic grade school had a convent attached to it with Vietnamese nuns. I recall seeing a couple feet tall pile of shrimp sitting on the concrete in the sun. They made very good fried spring rolls for the annual church bazaar.