# Is Key Lime Pie Safe to Eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307 "2013-10-03T22:56:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/21 "2013-10-04T13:30:39Z")
Consider the fact that everyone who ate key lime pie in the period 1700 - 1900 is now dead. Sounds pretty deadly to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/22 "2013-10-04T13:46:05Z")
It will make you gain weight and your blood sugar skyrocket, if you have diabetes, but, other than that, it is safe. And delicious. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/23 "2013-10-04T13:48:22Z")
If nothing else, I’d like to congratulate ralph124c on actually submitting a title w/o any typos. This easily could have been; WhIs Key Lime Pie Safe to Eat? Is Pee Lime Pie Safe to Eat? Is Key Lime Pie Safe to bEat? ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/24 "2013-10-04T13:50:19Z")
My recipe is baked but if you want to make the raw version you can buy pasteurized eggs. Sometimes they come in one-half dozen packages. I do this for my French silk pie. Your chances of being poisoned by the eggs are low but if you are serving it to someone with a compromised immune system, a child or an elderly person you have a little extra assurance you wont be making them sick. Try using crushed ginger snap cookies and butter for a different crust. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/25 "2013-10-04T16:12:40Z")
On refrigerated cookie dough, it now says in big bright letters, do not consume raw cookie dough. I did anyway and here I am. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/26 "2013-10-04T16:30:06Z")
> [@want2befree](#): > > On refrigerated cookie dough, it now says in big bright letters, do not consume raw cookie dough. I did anyway and here I am. For now… sure. But some day, you will pay the price for your recklessness. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/27 "2013-10-04T16:58:07Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > (snip)Now, I realize that many people eat raw eggs without getting sick-but most eggs contain salmonella bacteria. > So is this dessert safe? If by most, you mean 1 out of every 20,000 eggs contain salmonella bacteria, you are correct. Otherwise, enjoy your pie. Even if there are a dozen eggs in the pie there’s still only a 0.06% chance that one of them will contain salmonella, the acid will certainly denature most bacteria in it, and your immune system needs to know who it’s working for. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/28 "2013-10-04T19:43:52Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > What if Dexter brought it? Then you can be sure it’ll kill you, but you’ll be more annoyed that he used fresh milk. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/29 "2013-10-04T19:46:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Is Key Lime Pie Safe to Eat? You’re not supposed to eat the key, ralph. > [@Folacin](#): > > I’m pretty sure the salmonella associated with eggs is on the shell (from the hen basically pooping it out). > > If you wash that and/or are careful extracting the yolk, contamination shouldn’t be a problem. That is the more common source of salmonella, true, but it has been shown that the bacteria - at least some strains of it - is capable of being transmitted intracellularly. That is, some eggs can have salmonella living inside them. The more you know… ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/30 "2013-10-04T20:04:49Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I was all set to make one…but paused when I realized that the pie is made with raw egg yolks-it is not baked. Instead, the yolks are set by the acid in the lime juice. > Now, I realize that many people eat raw eggs without getting sick-but most eggs contain salmonella bacteria. > So is this dessert safe? No. You have uncovered a secret conspiracy by Key Lime growers. Did you know that over 100,000 people a year are killed by key lime pie…\*in the US alone? \*. Key lime growers are part of a massive plot to kill of large swaths of Americans by giving them salmonella poisoning. They kill and then reach out to the grieving widow(er) and buy the dead person’s property for a pittance. It’s a massive land-grab scheme! What’s really scary is that not only do the key lime growers have the media in their pockets, but they’ve silenced consumer advocates, health inspectors, the CDC, the Consumer Products Safety Board, the FDA and so-on. Why do you think you haven’t heard of this before? Because ALL THESE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN SQUASHED every time they’ve tried to go public with this. 100,000+ deaths a year man. Watch your back. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/31 "2013-10-04T20:07:05Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Consider the fact that everyone who ate key lime pie in the period 1700 - 1900 is now dead. Sounds pretty deadly to me. SEE!!! LOOK HOW FAR BACK THIS CONSPIRACY GOES!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/32 "2013-10-04T21:24:47Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > You’re not supposed to eat the key, ralph… This is true. Every time I tried to eat a small island, it caused serious digestion issues. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/33 "2013-10-04T22:33:24Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > Try using crushed ginger snap cookies and butter for a different crust. Yum. Or a chocolate cookie crumb crust. Ooooo… ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/34 "2013-10-05T02:02:19Z")
> [@want2befree](#): > > On refrigerated cookie dough, it now says in big bright letters, do not consume raw cookie dough. I did anyway and here I am. Raw cookie dough? Is there any other kind? If it’s not raw, it’s not dough, just a cookie. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/35 "2013-10-05T02:13:56Z")
I’ve been making Key Lime Pie every fall since I moved into this house over a decade ago - it’s a pot luck favorite. I’ve used two basic recipes - one baked, with egg yolks; one unbaked, without egg yolks. The other ingredients are the same in both recipes - 1/2 cup Key Lime juice and some fresh Key Lime zest, one can sweetened condensed milk, and a storebought graham cracker crust (or vanilla wafer crust if I can find them.) The baked one with the egg yolks is better in my opinion. I would never make an egg yolk version without baking. I’m not even sure it would set. Recipe directions: put all ingredients except pie crust into a bowl. Gently whisk together. Pour filling into pie crust. If using eggs, bake at 325 for 12-14 minutes, let cool, then refrigerate. If not using eggs, refrigerate until set or overnight. Serve with whipped cream. Stand back and listen to the rave reviews from your fellow pot-luckers. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/36 "2013-10-05T02:35:32Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Or a chocolate cookie crumb crust. Ooooo… For future reference: when you make a chocolate cookie crust, mix a teaspoon of instant coffee- the powder or granules- right in with the crumbled cookies and butter before you press into the pie plate or springform pan. It really kicks up the chocolate flavor. ---
**Author:** ![ruh-roh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ruh-roh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruh-roh)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/37 "2013-10-05T03:16:29Z")
to quote a phrase… “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Friedrich Nietzsche pie, bacon, alcohol… all in moderation, just parts of my ongoing strengthening workout. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/38 "2013-10-05T03:58:42Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Raw cookie dough? Is there any other kind? > > If it’s not raw, it’s not dough, just a cookie. Exactly. If it wasn’t meant to reinforce our immune system it would never have been invented. It was a brave man that first licked his mother’s spatula… ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/39 "2013-10-05T05:07:08Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Or a chocolate cookie crumb crust. Ooooo… > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > For future reference: when you make a chocolate cookie crust, mix a teaspoon of instant coffee- the powder or granules- right in with the crumbled cookies and butter before you press into the pie plate or springform pan. It really kicks up the chocolate flavor. Your newsletters, I would like to subscribe to them. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307/40 "2013-10-05T06:43:41Z")
> [@ruh-roh](#): > > “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Key lime pie that does not kill us merely weakens us for the next opportunistic infection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-key-lime-pie-safe-to-eat/670307.md?page=3)