Food Shelf

[amanda]

Is there a food shelf or something of the like on island? We have some food we may not end up using. I'd rather it go to good use than just tossing it.

Ps - can pasta sauce be in the fridge unopened and then out of the fridge for some time again? Or once it's in there, it should always stay cold?

[LifeInParadise]

Don't toss any left over food. Those hard working cleaning ladies will make use of it. Save for them and if you can leave them a tip....

[ColatoStJohn]

As long as the seal hasn't been broken on the jar of pasta sauce, I don't think there is any problem with it having been in the refrigerator.

[Bonny in CA]

We have left our excess food for whoever wants it after we're gone. Our most recent trip we took it to friends in Coral Bay before we left!

[DonnaM]

I always leave unopened food but throw away opened food. I know I wouldn't eat anything opened other than condiments ( spices, tea, coffee etc. are a different story. I would use/ leave them ). Unopened water, soda, beer , liquor are left. There was an honor bar at our last villa so we replenished what we used. Always nice to have something when you arrive!

[EagleRayLover]

I was very fortunate to have a couple Forumites give me there leftovers recently and it went to good use! I appreciated it so much since my job hasn't kicked into place. I also shared with others on the island who could use it too! ( I don't typically buy milk, but it sure was nice having cereal and milk due to Forumites friend!!)

[Teresa_Rae]

I'm a food scientist...as long as the seal isn't broken, you're fine for ambient storage.

[amanda]

Thanks everyone! I was mainly worried about the pasta. Anytime I offered to cook it for dinner my husband just wasn't in the mood. I thought he might never want it, but we did end up having that last night.

Good to know about the other options!

[kklay]

Our group usually has items left over and many times we just leave for the Cleaning people, replenish the liquor honor bar, etc. A few times we've become friendly with some of the wait staff at Woody's and we dropped off alot of items to them. We even asked about bread that had been opened, but only 1/2 used, we had a bag of pistachios 1/2 eaten one year (Sam's Club - 3 lb bag), as an example, and they wanted everything! As soon as we dropped off the boxed items in the late morning (on our way to the car barge), it looked like Christmas! The girls and the Woody's kitchen help stopped what they were doing and started claiming items. So.....I would also not be quick to automatically discard items that may have been opened. Food is somewhat expensive and I know our "CARE PACKAGE" was well - received.

[PA Girl]

I was in the process of throwing out our opened items (peanut butter, milk, water in gallon container, butter, etc.) when the cleaning crew showed up at our rental and she was glad to have all of it.

We had plenty of unopened items as well. I am glad she spoke up because I felt sort of weird leaving opened items and a note testifying that we weren't freaks and the food was "safe" if you know what I mean.