# Really?!?!? - Office refrigerator **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815 "2018-04-04T15:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/41 "2018-04-06T14:01:03Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > I’d just like to add my standard rant about how not every food item needs to be constantly refrigerated. If your sandwich is taken from your home fridge in the morning and left in a lunch bag for 4 hours, it’s safe to eat. It also tastes better at room temperature. IMHO, bread should never be refrigerated anyways. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > The worst is people who bring their lunch in a soft-side cooler the size of a 12-pack, then put the WHOLE COOLER in the fridge. > > What fuck, either unload the cooler in to the fridge, or keep the COOLER and lunch at your desk. Both of these… I hate cold bread. Also; how in the world does putting an insulated cooler into a refrigerator help to keep the contents cool? And I work with engineers who (presumably) studied Thermodynamics in college. The company refrigerators are completely emptied on Friday night by the cleaning crew. I imagine they have amassed quite the collection of coolers and plasticware over the years. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/42 "2018-04-06T14:12:05Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#): > > Both of these… I hate cold bread. Also; how in the world does putting an insulated cooler into a refrigerator help to keep the contents cool? And I work with engineers who (presumably) studied Thermodynamics in college. One hopes that putting food inside a closed container may deter people from stealing the contents. I’ll admit to very occasionally bringing large containers if I have to bring food to something after work. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/43 "2018-04-06T14:47:14Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > My question is why hasn’t anyone integrated a camera into a fridge JUST to put an end to this. From what you read there should def be demand, don’t you think? I was currious, so I Googled. Fridgecams are a thing. But it seems they are being marketed for home use. I think they missed their target demograph **elbows**. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/44 "2018-04-06T15:25:52Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > I’d just like to add my standard rant about how not every food item needs to be constantly refrigerated. If your sandwich is taken from your home fridge in the morning and left in a lunch bag for 4 hours, it’s safe to eat. I brown-bagged it to school virtually every day for 12 years, plus occasionally in college. Never had ice packs or anything else. The bag would stay in my desk or my locker till lunch time. Never got food poisoning or anything else resembling sick from unrefrigerated lunches. Oh, and I always had mayo on the bread - HOW DID I SURVIVE??? :eek::eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/45 "2018-04-06T15:27:31Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > One hopes that putting food inside a closed container may deter people from stealing the contents. > > I’ll admit to very occasionally bringing large containers if I have to bring food to something after work. That I understand, but that’s a different situation. My point is that if you are using a cooler/fancypants insulated lunchbox, then why not just put in an ice pack and have it at your desk? And before the folks who work at places where you can’t have anything at your desk (like people in HIPPA sensitive environments) chime in - yes, I understand there are exceptions to every situation. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/46 "2018-04-06T15:39:07Z")
> [@TheFaerie](#): > > That I understand, but that’s a different situation. My point is that if you are using a cooler/fancypants insulated lunchbox, then why not just put in an ice pack and have it at your desk? > > And before the folks who work at places where you can’t have anything at your desk (like people in HIPPA sensitive environments) chime in - yes, I understand there are exceptions to every situation. We’ll probably never know why. I suppose if someone here does it they can tell us, but that doesn’t mean that’s the universal reason. It happens at pretty much every workplace. I’m guessing that there isn’t really a good reason other than people aren’t putting too much thought it in. If they actually have a pre-considered reason, I would guess it would be one of these: - less likely to snack before lunch - no room at desk - fridge food goes in fridge - thinking that a cooler is just a container and not an insulator - not wanting to deal icepacks from their home - out of habit ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/47 "2018-04-06T15:48:23Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I was currious, so I Googled. Fridgecams are a thing. But it seems they are being marketed for home use. > > I think they missed their target demograph **elbows**. I know, right? They already make cheapo camera, recorder, access from web set ups for shops, (but it’d have to be integrated into the design or it’d be too easy to defeat, I should think.) There also exists an enormous array of small insulated coolers that plug in and could easily be used in a desk set up. And they’re cheap too! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/48 "2018-04-06T16:45:08Z")
My store has a simple rule about the frig in the break room: Anything stored in the inside of the door is for everyone. Anything stored on the shelves is off limits to any one but whoever put it there. Food we find open on the shelves goes on the table; eat at your own risk. The frig door and table get cleaned regularly. The frig shelves, almost never. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/49 "2018-04-06T18:31:25Z")
I worked at a place that had two fridges; one was cleaned out of _everything_\* every week. It was like they tipped it forward in front of the trash can. - Everything - unopened can/bottle of soda? Gone. Relatively new condiment jar? Gone. Container of butter/margarine? Gone. :smack: > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > The worst is people who bring their lunch in a soft-side cooler the size of a 12-pack, then put the WHOLE COOLER in the fridge. > > What fuck, either unload the cooler in to the fridge, or keep the COOLER and lunch at your desk. No, the worst is when the company gives out lunch sack-sized coolers to the employees, all the exact same. Good luck finding a particular one in the fridge. > [@Grrr](#): > > I was currious, so I Googled. Fridgecams are a thing. But it seems they are being marketed for home use. So, _does_ the fridge light stay on when the door is closed? 😕😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Fairway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Mrs\_Fairway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Fairway)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/50 "2018-04-06T19:20:33Z")
I am usually the fridge monitor at work; no one else cares. They keep putting their stuff in there though there is an odor that clearly indicates something has been in there too long. So periodically, I go through it and it’s not a large fridge; it’s home-size. Every day I put my small bag in there, I look around and if I see the same thing a week later, it’s going. For unopened items, milk or condiments, I check the expiration date. For leftover takeout or stuff from home–in the trash, container and all. . And then there is the coworker who burns her popcorn on purpose and stinks up the breakroom down the hall, then the hall itself, and finally, the work area because she eats it at her desk. I have asked her nicely several times to stop burning the popcorn. She says she is not burning it. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/51 "2018-04-06T20:16:21Z")
My situation is unusual, as I work in a refrigerated food warehouse. We all keep our lunches on racks near the doors to the front office/break room. Anything in the break room fridge is there for the taking. Usually it’s just condiments, milk and cream, but every once in a while there’ll be real food in there. Usually something that’s too close to expiration to ship, so checking the dates is important. > [@Spiderman](#): > > No, the worst is when the company gives out lunch sack-sized coolers to the employees, all the exact same. Good luck finding a particular one in the fridge. That’s easy enough to fix, just write your name on it. Or do what I did, put some red duct tape on it. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/52 "2018-04-06T20:37:44Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > In a previous job, I saw two guys get into an actual fistfight over a subway sandwich of all the things. It started with them both licking each other’s food, then it escalated to one of them loading the sub in question with hot sauce. It then escalated to both of them screaming obscenities at each other, then the actual fight, and it ended up with the cops hauling them both away. The company investigated, and ended up firing both of them over it. > > I remember this clearly, as I was the “big guy” in the office, and my boss told me to break it up. So I got in the middle of them, and one of those assholes broke my nose. My nose has been broken five times in my life, that was time #2. Nothing to add; I just wanted to say that I’m still laughing at this and will be for a while. You have my sympathy. Sheesh, was one of them Homer Simpson? At least it was for a good cause, right?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/53 "2018-04-06T23:24:10Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > Nothing to add; I just wanted to say that I’m still laughing at this and will be for a while. You have my sympathy. Sheesh, was one of them Homer Simpson? > > At least it was for a good cause, right?🙂 Well, he said it was a Subway sandwich, so at best, it was for a mediocre cause. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/54 "2018-04-07T03:43:48Z")
A different office refrigerator horror story… Back in the day, the freezer compartment could/would develop a layer of frost. Every now and again, it was proper procedure to ‘defrost’ the freezer. If you didn’t, the layer would continue to grow, especially if nobody was using the freezer. By ‘grow’, I mean that the frost would eventually completely fill the freezer. The proper procedure was to turn the refrigerator off, let the frost melt, then start it up again. Proper procedure was **not** to take something sharp and hard, like a pair of scissors, and chip out the frost. To do so ran the risk of poking a hole in the aluminum side of the freezer, where the coolant circulated. Which is exactly what the idiot did. On a Friday afternoon. He didn’t tell anybody or anything, he just closed it up and walked away. Come Monday, ‘horror’ doesn’t begin to describe the smells. No, it wasn’t me, but several of us had seen him going at it. It was an old refer anyway. We got a new frostless. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/55 "2018-04-07T22:29:12Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I was the office fridge horror story. When my office decided half and half was too expensive to provide for free, I purchased my own quart, had my morning coffee and by lunchtime the quart of almost empty. There was no H&H for my evening break coffee. I got another quart, but a sticky explaining it wasn’t for the office but my own, personal H&H. It was gone in a day. Finally I bought a quart and put a post it note that read: This is my fucking half and half. Buy your own fucking half and half or drink my spit. Yes, I spit in this container. > **ETA:** Although the H&H lasted more than a day, people still used it. Make friends with a pharmacist. Get your friend to put a label on a one-quart glass bottle. The RX dosage instructions should read “For Treatment of Pinworms. Take two Tbsp every four hours. Keep refrigerated.” Then fill the bottle with half-and-half. Oh, and the name on the bottle should be that of a co-worker who nobody likes to talk to. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/56 "2018-04-07T23:08:23Z")
Nothing major, but I once got a Diet Coke, took a sip and realized it was warm, and so put it in the office fridge. It was gone by that afternoon. I hope I was sick. [https://twitter.com/zaktoscani/status/979448251546927104](https://twitter.com/zaktoscani/status/979448251546927104) This Twitter thread is about a disappearing plate of food… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/57 "2018-04-09T01:30:42Z")
Back when I was in school there was a period where someone was actually stealing the meat out of sandwiches in the fridge. This crime spree went on for a month or so. I was Fridge Cop at my last job. My current job, lunch is on my desk in a cooler pack. I put nothing in the fridge, so I don’t really care about its reekitude. I went through my entire childhood stuffing paper bags of bologna and cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread in a room temperature locker every day for 5 hours until lunchtime. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/58 "2018-04-09T17:44:31Z")
One time at work I didn’t get a chance to eat my lunch so I burped the tupperware and decided to put it in the fridge. I took one look in there and decided that despite being sealed up I stood less of a chance getting food poisoning if I just left it on my desk all night. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/59 "2018-04-11T22:45:20Z")
> [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Almost as bad as fish in the microwave. Which is a hell-worthy offense. (It has happened once since I’ve been at my current workplace. No idea who did it.) Our office fridges are officially only cleaned out once per year – right before the company Thanksgiving potluck, to make room for all the mystery pots and casseroles folks want to share. I stopped using the fridge in the break room years ago after going to retrieve my cold cuts, only to find their little saran-wrapped pouch stuck to a puddle of goo that had seeped across the shelf. Speaking of the Thanksgiving potluck, the people in charge have a rather interesting way of dealing with leftovers – everything that looks alike gets dumped in the same container. XP Last year, this resulted in canned cranberry sauce being placed in a container alongside the remaining ‘cranberry congeal’. We have had one major cleanout kerfuffle – the VP’s secretary noticed a particularly powerful stench coming off of a plastic grocery bag in the fridge, decided it was spoiled, and deposited the bag (contents and all) in the trash. Turns out the bag was brought in by one of the managers; it contained a salad, silverware, and supposedly fresh onion dressing. He sent out an email to the entire company expressing his displeasure (and making sure we all knew that the silverware came from his failed marriage, so he didn’t particularly care that it had ended up in the trash). ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815/60 "2018-04-11T23:16:50Z")
Same problem at my work. Gets cleaned out a couple times a year when someone can’t stand it anymore (I pack mine in a personal cooler at my desk). Only issue I have, other than the obvious leaving food to spoil, is those that think the office fridge is their personal storage pantry. We have over a hundred people working around the clock and 2 fridges. There is not enough room for you to keep a week or more worth of unlabeled groceries in the fridge. We had to expand to a second fridge, and the freezer is still full of forgotten items in both. The fridge is a convenience to keep your food cool til lunch, not weekly storage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-office-refrigerator/811815.md?page=4)