Do You Eat Food Prepared in Other People's Homes?

I'll eat pretty much anything that anyone wants to prepare for me. Maybe it's because I'm not a very good cook, so I'll take what I can get when it comes to good food. Maybe it's because I'm just not that worried about germs, etc. I think it would be hard to live life the way you are describing (for me anyway). I'm betting that 95% of the time the food prepared by others is just fine. Why miss out on all that eating fun?!?!

I eat food prepared by others, and have never thought twice about it, and have never been sick. I mean, honestly, if there kitchen was that gross, don't you think that she or her family would have gotten sick by now!! LOL

Yes I do. And I've never washed a chicken (just writing that makes me smile). I didn't know I was supposed to. But I always wash my hands, and keep things properly wrapped and refrigerated etc. Just not washing chickens (hee hee hee).

I don't worry about that sort of thing. Life's too short. I figure if there aren't flies flying around their head, they must have some sort of definition of cleanliness...

Oh and I too had no idea you were supposed to wash chicken and I've never seen my mother do so. I'm 32 years old and still kickin' so I'm guessing NOT doing so isn't too life-threatening.

If it looks good, smells good, tastes good, you bet! I totally agree about the cat on the counter thing, but it's like the beef packing plant. There are some things I just dont want to think about.

Actually, I've watched a few TV shows that proved it's better to NOT wash chickens.

I do eat food made by others. I've done it for 29 years now, and I haven't died yet! I can think of all the wonderful times I had sitting around eating food with folks. You're missing out being so paranoid! What do you do, sit and watch while everyone else eats? Awkward!

Yeah--I kind of limit my choices with my disgusto-radar glasses on!

I know exactly what you mean....

I have neighbors whose house is a MESS. Every year they bring us a plate of Christmas cookies and--yep--right in the bin!
Same with a coworker of my husband's.
Sorry...not eatin' that!

I think I am like Katie, I am a good cook and wash my hands, so I trust others.. Plus I also eat out at restaurants.. Ever work in a restaurant kitchen?

If you are afraid of eating contaminated food, or worried about people treating food with respect.. Never work in the food industry, you will never eat again.

I can't imagine the drudgery and boredom that would come from only eating meals prepared in my own home. Really, so much of the joy in life comes from gathering with others and breaking bread together. I eat meals prepared in other people's homes all the time.

Don't let your own (misinformed) views on food safety and sanitation prevent you from enjoying sharing meals that others have cooked. I worked in the food industry for almost 10 years. A clean restaurant kitchen that would easily pass inspection is no cleaner than the average home kitchen. Of course if you go to someone's house and see cats on the counter or someone smoking while cooking it would be sensible to assume that their food prep standards are a little nasty but for the average person who generally looks like he or she maintains decent personal hygiene and grooming, I have no problem assuming that he or she also washes hands when cooking and won't make me sick with what is served.

Yes.
If the entire neighborhood is going to drop dead from eating each others cooking at our neighborhood barbecues, we'll all be going together.
Some of my neighbors are fantastic cooks!

I assume, perhaps foolishly, that most people have pretty hygenic kitchen practices.

I read in the "America's Test Kitchen" cookbook that washing chicken is unnecessary, and that all it does is contaminates the sink.

the only persons food that I refuse to eat is my MIL's. Not because she can't cook or anything. She is Filipino and in the Phillipines (sp?) they do not use toilet paper (if you know what I mean) and has brought that part of her culture here. She does obviously wash her hands, but still... I just cant and won't do it. EVER

Honestly, I think a lot of us should worry less about eating spoiled food and worry more about being spoiled people. I feel blessed to have food when so many people around the world have nothing. I can't imagine not eating something that was served to me by a friend or coworker. I was always brought up to believe that it was rude to refuse. I have never gotten any kind of food poisoning and I am eternally grateful to everyone who brought my family meals when my children were born.

I do eat food that other people have prepared. I usually know the people who prepared it so it is not really an issues for me.

This is certainly not one of those things I would waste my time worrying about. Life is too short for something like this.

I am sure you do not HAVE to participate so opt out if it is something that bothers you that much.

Generally, I'm alright with it. I guess I don't think too hard about other people's kitchens and we grew up doing the pot luck dinner at the church thing.

Ewww. Well now you have me thinking....

Yes, I do, but I certainly consider the source and how wise they seem.

By the way, I always used to wash chicken, until I took a cooking class and they discussed how much bacteria is spread around the kitchen when you do that - and onto non-cooked foods and dishes, etc. And I have never washed chicken since. So you probably wouldn't eat my food! But I am an awesome cook, and a cleaning fanatic.

Basically, I think restaurants are FAR more dangerous. Eyes don't matter if the culture of the restaurant is to not care. Have you wver seen Kitchen Nightmares. Eeeeek.

I go to potlucks and I eat whatever I see that looks tasty. I don't worry about whether their cats get on the counters.

I don't wash chicken and no one has ever gotten food poisoning from my chicken.

Of course I do. My immune system can handle pretty much what life throws at me because I make it work. Germs are all around us every day. Unless it's MERSA, accept them and move on. Life it too short to worry about every dish at a potluck. Yeesh.

I worked at a waitress at a 2-star rest. all through college and believe me, you do not even want to know what goes on back in the kitchen. And packaged foods? Don't get me started.

Yes, I do. In fact, we're having a potluck next week at work.

That being said .... my mom just told me about a former co-worker of hers that used to bring freshly-baked treats in to work to share and they were delicious and a huge hit. Then one day, my mom was in the ladies room doing her business and the woman came in w/ her baked treats plate to share again. She put the plate down on the sink counter, used the rest room, then grabbed a treat from the plate, popped it into her mouth and left the restroom to go put the tray in the lunch room. Without washing her hands after using the toilet. My mom said she never sampled one of her treats again. :)

As for washing the chicken before cooking/eating it, this was always my practice, too. But I recently read on Yahoo News I believe that they now say not to do that. That washing the chicken splatters any bad bacteria over your nearby counters, sink, etc. so now I don't know what to believe!

Heehee.
That is a big issue in our house.
My DH is positively phobic about eating other people's food.
Potluck days at work cause him so much stress.
When he was 13 he stopped eating food prepared by his mother. Thanks to many incidents-think poopy diaper hands and mystery caseroles. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter are very stressful for us all.We try to eat the 'safe' things. Cressent rolls. Lol.
After being part of my fam. for 11 years now, he has learned to trust my mom and some of my family, but other people...no. He won't eat their food. And thus he has passed his phobia onto me.
I am a picky eater though so it is just an extension of that for me.

We have restaurant issues too. We will only go to certain ones.

ETA: Susan L.-DH always puts what he will eat in the microwave. So there ya' go!

A girlfriend of mine who was in the Peace Corps in Africa told me she only ate food there if steam was coming off it (i.e. it was so hot).

I have applied the same rule when vacationing outside the US and it works. So I would say, if you want to participate, nuke it first!!!

Yes, I love to eat food that other people cook. Sometimes it's the best ever. However I must admit that there are two folks homes at which I am careful what I eat, because I know they leave food out for hours and often serve undercooked chicken.
And I'm glad you mentioned the chicken. I know the new regulations say don't rinse because you're spreading germs. But I super clean everything after I get chicken in the pan. I probably over do it!

Nope.

I can hardly eat stuff my moms cooks....My OCD with knowing where and what my food looked like pre cooking is so bad!

I also refuse To eat at a Buffet.

Whats the point in sharing salad with 500 of my closest friends???? that is disgusting:)

Pot Luck at work - it really just depends on who brought the dish. Usually there are so many options that no one really notices if I skip one...or I take a teeny tiny bit and just push it around the plate. LOL

Hmm, chicken, I always rinse it - whether it be a whole on or just parts....I really never thought about why - it was what my parents did and how I learned to prepare one.

I always think of the children's book character, Amelia Bedelia, when I "dress" a chicken.

My mom (80) still soaks her chicken in cold salt water before cooking it i just rinse. I will only eat food of people i know or have been in there kitcken once went to dinner at friends home beautiful and brand new ate chicken parm and found cat hair in it they had 2 cats yuck!!!

Yes I eat what others prepare, I try not to think about germs I guess, but I guess there is an ick factor if I do. I love social gatherings and thats part of the fun to me is eating. I also don't wash chicken.

I usually do - depends on who cooks it I guess:) but you got me thinking! ewwww. double eww about the lady who brought in the brownies and took them IN the bathroom then didn't wash her hands! GROSS. LOL

I do eat food prepared by others, but probably shouldn't! Guess I'm living on the edge. I have made exceptions. For example, one of my former co-workers was out sick with the stomach flu one day. The next day she came into work and had spent her sick day cooking Indian food for the rest of us. Um, sorry, I didn't want to eat it, whether she had washed her hands or not!

My sister used to work with a woman who was really into her cat. She brought cookies to work around the holidays. Right as someone was biting into one, she talked about how her cat had jumped up onto the counter while she was baking, and had gotten into the sugar and was digging and scratching in it! ewwwwwww!!!!!

To be honest, I dont.

I have seen way too many things, heard too many stories, and have had to many conversations like yours to anymore.

I dont know if people have the same cleanliness standards that I do.

I dont know if they all wash their hands before, during, and after handling the food I am about to put in my mouth.

I dont know if they even washed their hands after using the bathroom! Boy, I cant even count how many times I've had to remind ADULTS of this. Gross!!!

I dont know if they allow their pets on the counters while preparing the food.
I dont know if they washed the counters, and everything is sanitized.

I dont know if they dropped anything on the floor, then thoughtlessly think to themselves, "oh well, 5 second rule!!"

And I'm sorry too, I was ALWAYS taught to wash ALL meat before you cook it. Its always necessary. Nothing grosses me out more then bloody chicken. Cooked or not.

Yes, yes, I know, I can be a germaphobe haha, but its how I was raised. And if that means missing out on a cupcake, or a dish that looks good then I can live with that lol.

One time I was at this woman's house when I was a bit younger. They were having a pot luck and there were others there too. I was in the kitchen and she offered me a cupcake, I said "no thank you" for the reasons above, but my sister took one. She was about to eat it, when I saw ANTS crawling on the cupcake. I about threw up I tell you.
I quickly shouted "DONT EAT THAT!" at my poor terrified sissy, and pointed at the ants. The woman who was hosting the party nonchalantly says "Oh, just pick em off" and then I hear that the kitchen has been infested with ants recently, for a bit now. Oh goodness.

After finding ants, cat hair and other things on food from other people, I just quit eating food from "strangers".

In defense of the others, I thought you were being snob-ish while reading it. I had no idea that is was supposed to be a fun post. And I still don't get how it is fun. And how do you wash a chicken??

Yes, I eat other people's food. And I rinse a chicken before cooking, but don't wash it. When food is cooked to a certain temperature, it's going to be safe to eat. And food prepared in restaurants are likely way more iffy than something prepared by a co-worker or neighbor. By the way, my cats walk on my counters, but my food never touches the counter. All food is prepared on a clean cutting board.

I do not participate in that stuff, unless I feel comfortable that the cook is like me. This grosses me out so.

I once worked with a woman (Director of our department) who LOVED her pets like children. (She had pictures of them in her office, one was deceased and still brought her to tears to discuss.) There is not way that she could convince me that she was not kissing her "babies" while she was cooking. No way. Also, on her way out to lunch one day, she stopped in the restroom to "sit a spell". When she finished, she left the stall and walked right on out of there, with no stop at the basin to run her hands under the soap and water. Hmm...I knew who she was going to meet and wanted to call and tell her not to shake hands with her. Some time later, she announced that she had brought in her homemade baked ziti. She tried to insist that I taste it, but I declined.

I take my chances in restaurant, but my baby eats nothing that has not been approved by this mommy. Only my mother and I cook for him. He does not eat jarred baby foods. His foods are bought fresh. One I am satisfied that his immune system is sufficiently armed (nursing every day and only fresh foods), then I'll send him out into this nasty world. No need to be premature about it.

ETA: For me it's not about getting sick. It's just gross. I take special care to wash my hands in my kitchen. If I'm cooking for others, I don't taste from the pot because I would not want them to do that. Think about this: How often do we wash our hands in our own homes? How often do we scratch (over and under our clothes) and then handle the remote control and then later stick our hands in the ice tray? I think about that kind of stuff, and I come up with a big fat EW!

Also, I don't eat everything. I grew up with certain dietary restrictions, and people's insensitive response to this--"Oh, you can just pick it out"--have made me very aware that they just don't care. I am very particular about what I put into my body. Even if I'm gonna eat it, anyway, I want to--and have the right to--know what I am consuming. You would be surprised (or maybe not) at how many people cannot tell you the ingredients in food that they have prepared. Well, I don't knock it for them, but I have a right to say, "No, thank you."

I do wash my chicken first, but I also am sure not to splatter the water all over, and I keep my sink washed with soap. It's funny to me that the reason for not washing the chicken would be to avoid dirtying up something else. Just don't get other stuff dirty--how hard is that?? Why is that enough reason not to wash the chicken?

I do eat food others make, if it looks good, smells good, and I have an idea who made it..there's a couple of people that I probably wouldn't eat their food knowing how they keep their desk at work...

And I don't wash chickens either. If I've brined it, then I rinse it, but that's a rare occasion.

This is among the main reasons why you no longer can bring in homemade treats to school classrooms.

I personally have a little teensy bit of the "ewwww" factor when I think of all the "iffy" situations the potluck meals could have come from. But, I go forward and have a little faith that my immune system will hopefully fend off any of the food cooties. I have had food poisoning once..and it was horrible. But, it is a fact of life that we take a chance when we eat from a potluck situation. My odds are pretty good so far...so I take the chances. I love to cook..and I love to eat. I think potlucks are fun! Let the "ewww" factor go by the wayside and enjoy the comraderie of a good ol' fashioned pot luck!!

Good luck and best wishes at not selecting from the mystery casserole dish that the cat walked all over!!

PS...I don't wash my chicken...but I also would never get into a heated debate with someone who does...to each her own!!

I do. I have known people that don't, however, and that's fine too...it's all about comfort I suppose. I hear you on the washing chicken thing, I do it, my mom did it, but a lot of people don't. The most important thing is the cooking of the chicken I think, so I try not to let it worry it me!

There have been a few people that I've been a little too nervous to eat things they made and that made me feel sort of bad, but I really questioned their sanitation! ;) Those experiences have been few and far between though!

Some great responses. I haven't thought of this issue much. When I was growing up, food was pretty scarce and we were taught to be grateful that there was a next meal.

One person's food I do have a very hard time eating is my MIL's. No risk of food poisoning there--no ma'am.
She overcooks EVERYTHING! Bread and cookies- rock hard. Brownies--jaw breakers. Veggies- overcooked and very soft. I am just perplexed that someone doens't read directions on cook time or "forgets to pull dinner out" on every single visit. yikes!

The christmas baked goods reply reminded me of a family that used to love to give baked goods and fudge at the holidays, but they smoked and the tin smelled so disgusting. RIGHT IN the Trash.

oh for the love of Pete. Yes, I do. If the good Lord decides it's my time to go he is just as likely to strike me down with a lighting bolt as salmonella.

Well after reading this I may have a problem eating food others have prepared. Thanks for the cat visual. LOL

LOL, this question reminds me of my sister. Since she had her baby she has slowly but surely stopped associating with me. My house is not baby proofed enough. My kitchen is too dirty so she can't eat my food. My car isn't reliable enough so she can't go anywhere with us.

Here's my philosophy on life. I have three kids, and I work 35 hours a week. Every morning I get up and clean for an hour starting in the bathroom. I clean the bathroom, do a load of laundry, clean the floors and clean up the kitchen. At the end of the day I do the same thing but start in the kitchen.

At any given moment that you walk in my house, it could and probably is a mess. If you don't like it, lump it.

I grew up with my M. washing chicken. For that matter, she washes all meat except ground beef. Well, she came to visit me in Indonesia and was shocked that I didn't plop the chicken in the sink and wash it. My reply... "there's no way I'm putting that dirty water on my clean chicken! " :) Gave her a new perspective on washing chicken!

Nope. People can be really dirty and gross behind closed doors. How many times I have heard someone just leave the bathroom without washing their hands! I trust a restaurant more since they have codes and regulations to abide by.

Hahaha, as I was reading this I thought of my mom! She says the exact same things and really doesn't eat food from made/brought by people she doesn't know well or know how clean they are at cooking. Even the chicken thing. She was taught by her grandma and mom to always wash it. She never taught me that, but I recently learned the same thing other women are saying, about it spreading more germs. Interesting the things that change over time =)

Well I'm with you - Food handling is a big thing for me, and though some germs isn't bad, some germs do cause you to get sick. When you eat at restaurants, they do have to follow some guidelines for food handling and safety, but at a person's home, that is not always the case.

I don't know about anyone else, but I have to see the person in action and sense whether or not I will eat the food they prepare. I just don't want to risk getting food poisoning, upset stomach, and whatever, just because someone decided they didn't prepare the meat properly, or they sneeze and forgot to wipe their hands, or lick this and lick that then touch the food, go to the bathroom and back to the table...if it's ok with you, then that's what works for you and your family, but if it is a pot luck, then the person preparing the meal should be considerate of others and follow the right food handling guidelines...just my opinion...

For a little levity here, I am at the mercy of everyone else when I eat chicken. I don't touch dead meat, including chickens. It's a thing...

I remember my mom always washed the chicken. I'll have to ask my husband if he does - I don't remember!!

And to actually answer your question, I do eat anything anybody brings around. I guess I am just very trusting!

Dawn

We have been served food that was not properly cooked by elderly people several times and gotten ill, so we try to eat before we go every time. If it is an issue, we make a plate of "safe foods" and nibble.

I have for the past 32 years and I've never been sick from it :)
We have potlucks all the time at my work and I never miss them.

Two thing that people who haven't gone through the serve-safe course don't know but should are: one, chickens go through what is commonly called salminella stew if they don't have it already they will by the time the heaters come off, and secondly mayo that is store bought will go bad last at bbqs and picnics. I don't let my daughter near the kitchen if I'm making chicken. I treat raw chicken like its poison to my daughter. The pasta or potatoes will go bad from being left out before mayo on any "salad."

Updated

Two thing that people who haven't gone through the serve-safe course don't know but should are: one, chickens go through what is commonly called salminella stew if they don't have it already they will by the time the heaters come off, and secondly mayo that is store bought will go bad last at bbqs and picnics. I don't let my daughter near the kitchen if I'm making chicken. I treat raw chicken like its poison to my daughter. The pasta or potatoes will go bad from being left out before mayo on any "salad."

Yes, I eat at other people's houses and yes, it's a risk. Even your 2nd grade girlfriend may not change sponges, cutting boards, etc from raw to cooked food or cook her food to the "safe" temperature. But I don't obsess about it - even though actually you CAN die from someone serving food who doesn't follow proper handling/cooking guidelines.
One of my sisters has a SIL who is notorious for undercooking things like sausage or leaving a turkey cooked out on the counter for 3-4 hours before serving. Relatives have gotten food poisoning there. Other sister has a friend who is very much the same.
I work at an elementary school, and once a year, they have a staff appreciation luncheon. Parents can volunteer to bring a dish for the lunch. I always bring my own lunch on that day. I don't know these people and I have no clue how/when this food was prepared. This is the only thing I am really paranoid about

LOL. No problem with this. Ants...what's wrong with ants? Just pick em off! Really, i operate on what i don't know won't hurt me...if I see someone washing salad in the sink or not washing their hands, I'd be grossed out, but I don't think about it otherwise.

Nope, not unless i know them well..... i need an ingredient list. Im a vegetarian so knowing that, it makes more sense.

Guess you do not eat in restaurants. If I could not socialize by eating out
and having dinner with friends at their houses, I would go stark raving mad.
I do not worry about the things you talk about and I am still around 61 years
later! Relax and just enjoy life. Way to short to spend all your time worrying about food and where and how it is made.

Yes, I eat food prepared in other peoples' houses. And no, I don't wash chicken. It's actually less sanitary to do so because you cannot wash off salmonella (it only is killed by heat) but it will spread the salmonella to other areas and contaminate them.

I worry more about cheap restaurants than I do about friends' homes. Almost all food poisoning comes from restaurants, and unless an FDA insepctor is there, they have little motivation to cook cleanly, whereas people we know are cooking for people they like and have a personal motivation not to get them sick!

Frankly, there are much bigger things to worry about in life. My family has spent some time overseas, and people live just fine in ridiculously unsanitary conditions ... it puts a potential cat hair in your meal in a very different perspective.