I really tire of the admonitions to not eat food with mayonnaise in the summer at picnics. People long ago warned me about making sandwiches for my children to take to school. I was considered foolhardy, risking the life of my little children.
First of all, I only use Miracle Whip. My mother made egg salad sandwiches for us in the 1950s. We took them to school and stored them in a school with no air conditioning. We also ate pineapple/MW sandwiches, peanut butter/MW/banana sandwiches, pimiento/cheese--all made with Miracle Whip. I understand this is less likely to spoil than mayonnaise.
So, I have no fear of these foods or Miracle Whip. I do keep potato salad cold, very cold and take ice to place under the serving bowl no matter where I take potato salad, which I rarely share at dinners away from my home.
I decided to Google information to present to you, information I read a few weeks ago that exonerated mayonnaise. The information was elusive, but I did find a Snopes entry that points where the elusive article pointed--to potatoes. People who become ill do so from a food borne earth pathogen that is found in potatoes. Sooo, the potatoes introduce the culprit pathogen!
Then, the article went on to implicate onions in illness. Thankfully, I never eat the raw, chopped onions offered at outdoor venues for hot dogs and hamburgers sold. However, I will store half an onion for later. Long ago, I quit eating potato salad brought to an event unless I personally knew who brought it and if I trusted that person. If I serve potato salad outdoors, I do toss the leftovers even though the bowl is in ice on the picnic table.
Oh yes, an onion in the room does not collect germs from the air, leaving you with clean air.
The article asserts that the mayo is a factor in keeping the food from spoiling. I believe that, but I will still refrigerate any food that says to "refrigerate after opening." I am just silly that way.
Read this article to find out more.
Mayo-less potato salad recipe
This recipe on the grill looks great and could be adapted for indoor cooking. I cannot post a video, so just follow this link for a scrumptious recipe..
Your turn
Do you, like I, still serve mayo or Miracle Whip without fear? Do you send sandwiches or take sandwiches that contain mayo or MW to store for eating later?
