Can you keep potato salad?

[OliverB]

I use a recipe from an old Bavarian book to make my salad, it says to not keep it over night, as it's "dangerous" to do so. But it doesn't say why and I've kept it with no ill effect for a day or three.

But I'm curious, is this an old wives tale? An old pre refrigeration thing? Is there some toxin developing?

I have some left over from the 24th and plan to eat that just fine, but...

Any idea why this might be - or hopefully have been - an issue?

[Twyst]

Old wives tail. Its fine.

Im guessing it's a remnant of a time before refrigeration. Germs really love cooked rice and potatoes left in the "danger zone" for too long. Lots of people also think its the mayo in potato salad that makes it such a risk if not cared for properly, but the cooked potato is again the bigger risk!

Edited December 26, 2012 by Twyst (log)

[OliverB]

no mayo in this one, but thanks! I think it might have been something with the taters, either coming out of the dirty ground or being part of the nightshade plant family.