Colombian wife in America

[valuedcustomer]

I have been having some problems with cultural adjustment with my wife.  Today my wife screamed when she cracked an egg and it was all black and rotten.  Upon investigation, I found that she had been storing the eggs in the cupboard and not the refrigerator.  I told her that it was important that things like milk and eggs are always in the refrigerator.  She said that in Colombia people don’t store eggs in the refrigerator.  I find this hard to believe.  For those men who have Colombian wives, is this true?

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

My wife always stored eggs in the refrigerator back in Colombia and still does.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

I don't remember about Colombia, but my noiva in Brazil doesn't refrigerate a lot of things that we do here in N.A.  

At Christmas, she prepared a very nice dinner.  Christmas dinner is eaten at midnight in Brazil.  SHe had done the cooking in the morning and early afternoon and left the food out in the kitchen for HOURS until we ate.  After our meal, the food continued to stay out in the kitchen for the rest of the night and into the morning.  It seemed that Brazilians used their refirderators to keep cold water, cold fruit juice or soft drinks.  Raw meats were also kept in the fridge.

My impression is that fridges are used primarily to make things cold and only secondarily to preserve the freshness of foods.  I know that I am going to put a stop to that in a hurry wherever we end up living.  On my visit, there were far too many flies and such around the food for my comfort.  

I live in south Florida and there are all kinds of insects and lizards or geckos that make their way into houses.  I put EVERYTHING in the fridge, including bread and opened cereal.  Only well sealed, unopened packages stay out.  That is the way it will be.  Patience is secondary in this case.  Eating spoiled or contaminated food is a serious health hazard that is easily prevented.

[MarkNJ]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

I too would say that from what I can remember in all people I have stayed with  a majority of the food tends to be purchased for consumption within a day or two.   Most of the refrigerators I have seen tend to be sparse with little contents and used mostly to keep meats and similar items fresh.   I think is has more to do with a way of living, the differences in culture and lifestyle.   We tend to have products here kept in situations for a longer "shelf life".

[doombug]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

[This message has been edited by doombug]

My wife (Peruvian) leaves her eggs out, usually in the very bags or trays in which she bought them.  She has been recently learning about refrigeration after having finally bought her first (used) refrigerator about a year ago.  In fact, the markets in Peru sell eggs unrefrigerated, whereas most major outlets here don't.

It seems the Peruvians, Mexicans, and other Latinos that I know--or have met or lived with--eat eggs a lot sooner after buying them than we do.  In Peru, I never witnessed them buy (or sell) multi-dozen packages (as I have done--even living alone).  We eat out for breakfast more often, and seem to eat more sweetened cereals, pancakes, waffles, etc., than Latinos.  So, with our breakfasts tending to not be as "traditional" any longer, we can't afford to allow our eggs to sit out unrefrigerated as they do in LA.

Almost every morning in Lima we'd eat some sort of egg concoction, often with ham, and with such sides as french bread, papaya or mango juice, fried platanos (bananas), marmalades, olives, and pantry-stored MILK, and an awesome little treat called "maca avena," which they simmer with cloves and raw cinnamon sticks (my wife calls it 'kweker,' since it's made by "Quaker." Coincidently, it is impossible to find in the U.S.)  Still, it was remarkable to discover that they don't refrigerate milk, eggs, and much more that we would consider perishable.  Milk is sold in half-liter cartons right off the shelf; and eggs in transparent bags, stacked in bins near the cash registers.  

One of the most horrid breakfast foods I've ever eatin--anywhere--are "huevos de la tortuga" (the eggs of fresh water turtles).  Their smell, taste, and appearance is disgusting in equal parts.  And my wife and her sisters are not ashamed to admit loving them.  Peruvians love a variety of eggs:  Quail eggs in their soups, chicken eggs for breakfast/soups, and turtle eggs for breakfast or as a treat.

Still, the breakfasts--the food in general--that I've eatin while in Peru has been the most memorable and yummy anywhere.  And it is one of the leading reasons why I hope some day to retire there.

[jediknight]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

when i went to exito in bogota the eggs were all in the isles, with the sodas, cereals, etc, not refrigerated.

[Cali James]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

[This message has been edited by Cali James]


I don't know, my experience was that people refigerated their eggs.  My wife said everyone she knows does the same but that in Bogota there are some people who don't.

[Onephd]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

When I visited my ex novia in Bogota, her family hardly put anything in the frig. If I remember correctly I think I only ever saw raw meat in the frig.  Milk, eggs, cheese, and other stuff was always left out overnight.  

The first time I stayed at her house, I awoke the next morning before everyone else and I threw away all the food that they left on the dinning room table and such.  Her mother was so upset and didn't understand my actions but I explained to her what I thought the food wss no longer good and she informed me that in Colombia they don't put stuff in the frig. (except for meat).  

Just be patient.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Colombian wife in America, posted by Onephd on Apr 2, 2005

This depends. My wife's family always puts everything in the refrigerator. They even put stuff in there that doesn't really need to be there.

[valuedcustomer]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

Guys… thanks for the good information.  At least that verifies for me that they don’t refrigerate eggs in Colombia.  But, I told my wife what you said and she said that in Colombia they do buy large portions of eggs and keep them for more than two weeks.  She says that in Colombia they take the eggs directly from the chickens and don’t use chemicals thus the eggs last longer… she claims the eggs must spoil faster in America because of all the chemicals we put in them.  She has also claimed that the food here has no taste because of the chemicals.  I don’t know what the truth is here .. but if you bring a wife over from America make sure she puts the eggs and milk in the refrigerator.

[pablo]

... in response to Re: Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005


Fresh eggs in the shell will last up to 3 weeks if not refrigerated.  However it is best to refrigerate them for freshness and to prevent illness such as botulism.  

Your wife is correct that the eggs taste better in Colombia but it's probably because of the feed or better living conditions than our mass produced egg ranches.  Range free eggs are the best tasting.

Here are a couple informative sites with suggested shelf life on various foods you can show your esposa.

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000001-d000100/d000066/d000066.html

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/foodbornedis.htm

[Fuzzyone]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

My wife put them in the fridge when I was in Colombia but then the store did
not have them cold either so who knows...

[Pete E]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

You can store eggs unrefrigerated for awhile.Maybe a week,2 weeks max.They are not refrigerated in the store here.She probably just used them up faster when here.
For women who come from such a hot climate they seem to have little comprehension of things spoiling.Probably because they get eaten quickly and they tend to buy everything in small quantities here.
My ex would just leave food in the rice cooker.She liked to put all kinds of ingredients in rice.But it could spoil in a few hours,overnight for sure.
Lucky for you those rotten eggs were so rotten it was obvious.

Pete

[Craig]

... in response to Colombian wife in America, posted by valuedcustomer on Apr 2, 2005

Yes it is. Even when you buy them in the local store you will see them in the dry goods area. I think that in Colombia they (eggs) are used so quickly they don't have the chance to spoil. I would help her adjust and eat more eggs.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Colombian wife in America, posted by Craig on Apr 2, 2005

This cracks me up. My wife and her kids eat more eggs than anyone I ever saw. They eat so many eggs I am thinking of getting some chickens to keep them supplied.