# Would you eat a three-day-old ham sandwich? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215 "2005-09-30T16:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/1 "2005-09-30T16:22:32Z")
Friday, and time for another trivial poll. So let us posit a ham sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, cheese, your choice of mayo or mustard, nicely bagged and kept in the fridge for three days. Do you eat it, or throw it gagging into the trash? I just did the latter not two minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/2 "2005-09-30T16:30:30Z")
No. Lest I be visited by a namesake of yours, Sal Monella. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/3 "2005-09-30T16:31:39Z")
I’d throw it, but not because I thought it was bad or dangerous. Assuming that all the ingredients were fresh when you put the sandwich together, the sandwich is fine. However, the tomatoes and mayo/mustard will have rendered the bread all mushy and gross within 3 days. If it were just ham, bread, cheese, and lettuce, I’d add some mustard/mayo and a tomato or two and eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/4 "2005-09-30T16:33:19Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > No. Lest I be visited by a namesake of yours, Sal Monella. From what? As long as it was refrigerated, salmonella isn’t going to show up any faster in a sandwich than it would in the raw ingredients themselves. All of the items listed have a fridge-shelf-life of much longer than 3 days. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/5 "2005-09-30T16:36:20Z")
Well, _I_ thought it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/6 "2005-09-30T16:36:51Z")
Heck yeah, I’d eat it. Wouldn’t even give it a second thought. I’ve eaten stuff out of my fridge that had to be carbon-dated. As long as it passes the two tests: a) doesn’t smell bad, and b) isn’t currently growing a cure for some disease, it goes down the hatch. Just today I had some Chilis chicken quesadillas that I bought a week ago Monday. ---
**Author:** ![wasson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4da419/32.png) [@wasson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wasson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/7 "2005-09-30T16:38:14Z")
Like Athena, the only thing stopping me from eating it would be the bread mushiness. But if I was really hungry and there was nothing else in the house… maybe. By maybe, I mean probably. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/8 "2005-09-30T16:44:02Z")
I’d definitely eat it, despite the mushiness factor. Any kind of ham you buy is going to be so full of preservatives that three days is nothing to it, especially while refrigerated. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/9 "2005-09-30T16:49:26Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Well, _I_ thought it was funny. Funny yes, but alas, inaccurate. 🙂 -CynicalGabe Ex-Institutional Cook and ServeSafe certified ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/10 "2005-09-30T17:25:36Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Well, _I_ thought it was funny. Hey, I thought it was funny, too! But “funny” is only secondary here. Fighting ignorance comes first. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/11 "2005-09-30T17:31:39Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > Friday, and time for another trivial poll. So let us posit a ham sandwich, with lettuce, tomato, cheese, your choice of mayo or mustard, nicely bagged and kept in the fridge for three days. Do you eat it, or throw it gagging into the trash? I just did the latter not two minutes ago. I won’t eat one that was prepared four hours ago if it has mayo on it. no fuckin’ way. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/12 "2005-09-30T17:33:59Z")
I’d eat it and look for another one. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/13 "2005-09-30T17:40:53Z")
Hell, I’d probably eat one that’s been sitting on the counter for 3 days as long as it didn’t have mayo on it. In the fridge… without a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/14 "2005-09-30T17:41:55Z")
> [@](#): > > _ **Master Shake** : Well, how come no bacon? > **Demonic voice** : Bacon is extra. > **Master Shake** : You call this a sandwich, you don’t have bacon on it? > **Demonic voice** : There are no swine evil enough to sacrifice upon a bed of EVIL! And lettuce. EVIL AND LETTUCE!_ As to the OP, no, I’d toss it due to the mushy factor unless I was too sick to leave the house and find something better. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/15 "2005-09-30T17:49:15Z")
Just out of curiousity, what do all you anti-mayo people think that mayo on refrigerated sandwich does that’s different than mayo in a jar in the fridge? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/16 "2005-09-30T18:19:04Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Just out of curiousity, what do all you anti-mayo people think that mayo on refrigerated sandwich does that’s different than mayo in a jar in the fridge? Well, if you want to get picky, the mayo has been taken from a fairly hostile environment for bacterial growth (a jar of pasteurized oily mayo with not enough water to support bacterial propagation), spread thinly on a piece of moist bread in the open (long enough to collect mold spores and bacteria), then placed in a cool place to culture. So what we’ve potentially added is lifeforms and the nutrients and environment they need to survive, if not flourish. Not as dangerous as letting it set out in the hot sun to simmer, but certainly after a few days or weeks, you’d see some mold growth, while a jar of mayonnaise will remain good probably for years. So certainly there’s some difference. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/17 "2005-09-30T18:20:52Z")
Sure, I’d eat it. The bread would be a bit flat and soggy from prolonged contact with the mayo, but heck, it’s food, and it’ll keep you alive. If I’m hungry, and there’s a pre-made sandwich just sitting there, it’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/18 "2005-09-30T18:24:05Z")
I wouldn’t eat it, but only because i don’t like ham sandwiches. 😛 However, were it turkey, then I’d replace the soggy bread (and probably have to add soem more mayo) and eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/19 "2005-09-30T18:24:59Z")
I’d eat it. Nothing like a Ham Sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215/20 "2005-09-30T18:34:21Z")
The lettuce and tomato would have to go because they get really weird textures after even a day of being in a sandwich (or salad for that matter). If the bread weren’t too soggy or too stale, then I’d eat it. Otherwise I might throw out the bread and eat just the ham and cheese which would still be in fine condition. Especially with some of that mustard on them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-eat-a-three-day-old-ham-sandwich/324215.md?page=2)