Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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A whimsical lasagna slice with mismatched layers—crispy and soft pasta, colorful sauces, varied cheeses, and mixed fillings—sits on a plate in a rustic kitchen. Each layer contrasts wildly, symbolizing change over time in a playful take on the Ship of Theseus paradox, now deliciously reimagined in pasta form.

753. Re-Heating Leftovers Indefinitely and the Lasagna of Theseus

April 02, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of re-heating leftovers indefinitely and the lasagna of Theseus.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Life Kit : NPR
  • Theseus - Wikipedia
  • Ship of Theseus - Wikipedia
  • Tyndallization - Wikipedia
  • How long do leftovers last? An - Life Kit - Apple Podcasts
  • How long do leftovers last? And other food safety questions, answered : Life Kit : NPR
April 02, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Leftovers

The image features a plate of freshly cooked shrimp with dipping sauce on a wooden table. In the background, a television displays a football game. A majestic owl with striking feathers perches nearby, gazing intently at the shrimp. The cozy living room setting has warm lighting, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

744. Superb Owl Shrimp That's Been Out of Temperature, Refrigerated and Reheated

March 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Superb Owl shrimp that's been out of temperature, refrigerated and reheated.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Watch the Football! ⚽ | That Mitchell and Webb Look - BBC - YouTube
  • 2025 Super Bowl LIX Sunday - When, Where & More - NFL.com
  • A comprehensive review of the spoilage of shrimp and advances in various indicators/sensors for shrimp spoilage monitoring - ScienceDirect
  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
  • Food Lion Shrimp Ring, with Cocktail Sauce, Cooked Same-Day Delivery or Pickup | Food Lion


March 12, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Shrimp, Time temperature control for safety food, Leftovers

DALL·E: The image shows a kitchen table filled with Thanksgiving leftovers, including turkey, mashed potatoes, pies, and cranberry sauce, set in a cozy, warmly lit kitchen. A digital timer on the table flashes red with the message "Time's Up," signaling the food has been left out too long, highlighting food safety concerns.

697. Thanksgiving Leftovers

November 22, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Thanksgiving leftovers.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
  • Cooling Uncovered Foods at a Depth of ∼5.1 cm (2 in.) or Less Poses Little Risk of Pathogen Growth - ScienceDirect
  • Merch — Risky or Not?
November 22, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Thanksgiving, Leftovers

DALL·E - An open refrigerator with various items inside. The main focus is a fast food chicken taco wrapped up tightly in packaging, which has the name of a generic fast food restaurant.

635. Eating 3-Day-Old Fast Food Chicken Tacos

July 01, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating properly refrigerated 3-day-old fast food chicken tacos.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Merch — Risky or Not?
  • Carnac the Magnificent - Wikipedia
  • Who Has The Worst Fast Food Leftovers? - YouTube
  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
July 01, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Chicken, Leftovers, Tacos

303. Eight Pounds of Pad Thai Leftovers

May 18, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eight pounds of pad thai leftovers brought home from a work event.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • K Brooke Golisch, MD on Twitter: "Hypothetically if one took home an approximately 8 lb tin of leftover pad thai from a work event on Thursday, what would the latest possible day one could eat it and probably not get sick?" / Twitter
  • Don Schaffner 🦠 on Twitter: "@BrooketheOstomy What are the dimensions of the tin?" / Twitter
  • Jacobsen's Danish Butter Cookies | World Market
  • 15 cups to liters
May 18, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Leftovers, Cooling

302. Reheating Food in a Microwave

May 16, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reheating food in a microwave.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • A computer vision method to locate cold spots in foods in microwave sterilization processes - ScienceDirect
  • Variability in temperature distribution and cooking properties of ground pork patties containing different fat level and with/without salt cooked by microwave energy - ScienceDirect
  • Cooking with Microwave Ovens | Food Safety and Inspection Service
May 16, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Heating, Leftovers, Microwave

293. Low Volume Lasagna at Olive Garden

April 25, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of low volume lasagna (made with beef reused over 11 days) at Olive Garden.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Reply to @nc_704 | with Music original sound - Andrew
  • Landon Conover #Vaccinated #EXTREME MASKER on Twitter: "#RiskyorNot @bugcounter @benjaminchapman This seems pretty crazy… #TikTok https://t.co/rTGCvQ77Ox" / Twitter
  • Darden Restaurants: A Leader in the Full-Service Restaurant Industry
  • Tyndallization - Wikipedia
April 25, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Reheating, Tyndallization, Leftovers

Spoiler alert - it wasn’t the leftovers. Also, just be glad I didn’t post any pictures from the NEJM.

270. Rice, Chicken, and Lo Mein Leftovers

March 02, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of shock, multiple organ failure, and rash after eating rice, chicken, and lo mein leftovers.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Case Challenge — A 19-Year-Old Man with Shock, Multiple Organ Failure, and Rash — NEJM
  • Dr. Glaucomflecken (@DGlaucomflecken) / Twitter
  • Meningococcal Disease | CDC
  • What a Food Safety Expert Says About Storing Leftovers After Teen's Food Poisoning-Amputation Case Goes Viral | Inside Edition
  • BAM Chapter 14: Bacillus cereus | FDA
March 02, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Medical doctors, Leftovers, Food poisoning

262. Justin's Leftover Steak, Cooked on the Use-By Date and Eaten Two Days Later

February 11, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of steak, cooked on the use-by date and eaten two days later.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Justin on Twitter: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman #RiskyOrNot eating leftover pre-cut steak (i.e., stir fry steak) that was cooked on the “use by” date 2 days after the “use by” date. (In my mind, the game clock reset when I cooked it, but my wife wants an expert opinion.)" / Twitter
  • Listeria - Wikipedia
  • Food Product Dating | Food Safety and Inspection Service
February 11, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Steak, Leftovers, Use-by date

228. Trice Reheated Poultry

November 24, 2021 by Don Schaffner

In a special American Thanksgiving holiday episode, Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of trice reheated poultry

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • “Risky or Not 2021” graphic tee, pullover hoodie, tank, onesie, and pullover crewneck
  • It’s Difficult to Make Predictions, Especially About the Future – Quote Investigator
  • Leftovers: The Gift that Keeps on Giving | USDA
  • Turkey Enchiladas - Gimme Some Oven
  • Simple Perfect Enchiladas Recipe | Ree Drummond | Food Network
  • Trader Joe's Enchilada Sauce 12oz : Grocery & Gourmet Food
November 24, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Leftovers, Poultry, Reheating
157.png

157. Leftover Pizza

June 11, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leftover pizza refrigerated for 1 week.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • National Pizza Week
  • Potential growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Italian mozzarella cheese as affected by microbiological and chemical-physical environment - ScienceDirect
  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
June 11, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Leftovers
142.2.png

142. Beeswax Wraps

May 07, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using beeswax wraps

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Beeswax Wraps by Nature Bee® - Canadian Made Reusable Food Wrap – Nature Bee Wraps
  • The Anti-Microbial Effect of Food Wrap Containing Beeswax Products
  • Efficacy of hand washing beeswax food wrap in household use
May 07, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Plastic, Beeswax Wraps, Leftovers
136.png

136. Eating Cold Leftovers

April 23, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating cold leftovers.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Leftovers, Partnership for Food Safety Education
  • Warmed‐Over Flavor in Cooked Meats
  • FDA Model Food Code 3-403.11 Reheating for Hot Holding
April 23, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Leftovers, Re-heating

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