Help, I need an expert. Does margarine have to refrigerated. I can't find anybody that knows the facts. Has anyone out there had any background in margarine?

-- linda benson (lcbenson@bellsouth.net), July 17, 1999

Answers

Linda, your question would get more answers on the Timebomb 2000 Preparation forum. See About for hot link. Otherwise:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=TimeBomb%202000%20%2 8Y2000%29%20Preparation%20Forum

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 17, 1999.

Linda, margarine has to be kept refrigerated. It's clarified butter called (Ghee) that will keep at room tenp.

-- FOX (ardrinc@aol.com), July 17, 1999.

Dehydrated - powdered margarine is available.

Joe

-- Joe Stout (joewstout@iswt.com), July 17, 1999.

LINDA:

AVOID butter! It's been touted to be 'low cholesterol', but it's loaded with hydrogenated vegetable oil --- a lot worse for your arteries than cholesterol. Stick with butter, or make your own post-y2k.

Bill

-- William J. Schenker, MD (wjs@linkfast.net), July 17, 1999.

I keep margarine at room temperature for at least a couple weeks at a time, without any apparent effect.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), July 17, 1999.

Well everyone I finally got an answer to the margarine question. I got an expert, a home economist wrote to me and explained it all. Margarine is made from milk solids and does have to be refrigerated. "Spreads", like Country Crock is made of oil and is the same as having a bottle of cooking oil in your pantry. She did caution to keep it in a cool place. Hope anyone out there that wants to have buttery flavor for Y2K foods can use this advice. I know it's not that good for you but we all need some comfort foods during what could be a very stressful time.

-- linda benson (lcbenson@bellsouth.net), July 17, 1999.

There is a butter flavored Crisco that has an 18 month shelf life as I recall. My MIL uses it constantly, her food tastes great, and they're closing in on 80 years of age.FWIW.

-- flora (***@__._), July 17, 1999.

Linda,

To confirm, I saw giant tubs of Country Crock on an unrefrigerated end cap at Sam's the other day. ('Good to know if the power goes out, Y2k or not.)

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), July 18, 1999.