Buyer beware!

[edible_hat]

Last week I bought a big bag of potatoes. I just found out that some are rotten. It's bad enough to not be worth bothering going through the bag to find any good ones that might still be there. Sadly I don't have the reciept any more, so no return for me.


The lesson is: don't buy cheap bags of potatoes from the supermarket. Loose produce may cost a bit more but at least you can see that what you're getting is still good.

[fireheart]

That's just wrong. And I thought that one of the local supermarkets was bad enough when they had rotten peaches...

But yes, loose produce is worth it in the long run.

(Yes, I work at a supermarket)

[MoxisPilot]

The last three times I've bought the three-pack of garlic from the commissary, they've been moldy inside.

It's more expensive, but I buy it from the Italian markets now.

[Nashida]

We had that trouble last week. We picked up a package of whole chicken breasts to roast for dinner. We take them home, turn the oven on, and get ready to season them before popping them in, only to discover the both of them had gone bad.

Mom had to take them back to the store, and felt so sorry for the cashier who was stuck scanning the thing back in to the system to process the return. Mom tried to discourage her from opening the bag, but the cashier goes "I've got to," while trying to hold her breath.

We were just surprised because the store is usually good at keeping track of things when they are borderline going bad. This chicken in particular had 3 more days before it's sell-by date. How it spoiled is beyond me.

Mom didn't bother picking up more chicken from that store that day, figuring the whole batch was probably bad. She bought beef instead, which turned out okay.

[ArcticChicken]

This chicken in particular had 3 more days before it's sell-by date. How it spoiled is beyond me.

My guess would be that someone changed their mind about it, and then it sat around for a while, and then whoever is in charge of putting things back wasn't paying attention and put it back instead of trashing it.

That's what usually happens at my store.

[raw456]

.....The lesson is: don't buy cheap bags of potatoes from the supermarket. .....

This is SO true.

I make a point of only buying fresh fruit and veg from a green grocer. we were so sick and buying vegies from the big chain supermakets only to find they were bad when you got home.

Our local grocer is fantastic. you can buy vegies there and 10 days later they are still fresh. It's worth spending the extra few dollars cause you would end up spending that to replace al the spoiled stuff anyway

BTW - was this from the large national chain starting with a "W"?

[Shpepper]

I get people who look at me like I am totally nuts (how did they know?) when I shop for produce. I smell EVERYTHING. Potatoes should smell like clean dirt. Ok I know but it's the only way I know to identify the smell. Other things should smell just like they should taste. Lettuce should not smell bitter or it will taste bitter. It's strange but I rarely get bad produce that way and I get all mine from chain stores.

[RedRoseSpiral]

I remember a couple years ago when my mom grabbed a sack of potatoes from Walmart. I got one out and but it in the microwave. When it was done I cut it in half and it was all black in the middle. Looked fine on the outside but ewww on the inside. Went through and cut open all the other ones and they were the exact same. Never bought potatoes in a sack since.

[edible_hat]

BTW - was this from the large national chain starting with a "W"?

No, the one with a "C".

[Sparky]

I get people who look at me like I am totally nuts (how did they know?) when I shop for produce. I smell EVERYTHING. Potatoes should smell like clean dirt. Ok I know but it's the only way I know to identify the smell. Other things should smell just like they should taste. Lettuce should not smell bitter or it will taste bitter. It's strange but I rarely get bad produce that way and I get all mine from chain stores.

I agree about smelling potatoes. Pick the bag up and hold it right up to your nose.

Also, I always check eggs. Look for broken ones and wiggle them. If they don't wiggle easily in the carton they might be broken on the bottom.

I remember a couple years ago when my mom grabbed a sack of potatoes from Walmart. I got one out and but it in the microwave. When it was done I cut it in half and it was all black in the middle. Looked fine on the outside but ewww on the inside. Went through and cut open all the other ones and they were the exact same. Never bought potatoes in a sack since.

I've never had this happen, which is surprising, since I've been cutting up potatoes and found black spots in the middle lots of times. I just cut that part out.

[WhiteRose]

i have had no problems with rotting produce (unless i leave it in my OWN fridge)....