From: (James=A0Egan)

>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce,
> I taste the sauce (or gravy) occasionally to
> test. My wife maintains that I should clean the
> spoon each time, because my saliva will
> adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I
> understand that saliva contains enzymes and
> that their purpose is to break down food.
> However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the
> sauce will have any significantly adverse
> affect. It's not like I slobber on the spoon!
> Anyway, do YOU always wash your spoon
> after tasting? Be honest! <g>

I only ever cook for myself and my BF, and never in anyone else`s house.
I also use the same spoon over and over for tasting without washing it,
and so does BF. Neither one of us minds, we eat off each other`s plates
and share bites and such sometimes anyway. As far as saliva effecting
the food, I doubt it.

James Egan wrote:
> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Use a "tasting spoon". duh Keep a dedicated spoon at your cooking
station and each time you taste dribble some from your wooden pot spoon
into your tasting spoon... totally hygienic, saves washing many spoons
and so simple a concept that I'm suprised no one else here has thought
of it, although I shouldn't be so surprised, since if you totalled all
the IQs of all those who responded previously they don't add up to one
normal intelligence. Ahahahahahahahaha. . . .

Sheldon

On 2005-04-28, James Egan > wrote:

> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Not a problem. I dip into my spaghetti sauce with a peace of buttered
sourdough bread. By time the sauce is finished, I'm full.

nb

notbob wrote:
> On 2005-04-28, James Egan > wrote:
>
>> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
> Not a problem. I dip into my spaghetti sauce with a peace of buttered
> sourdough bread. By time the sauce is finished, I'm full.
>
> nb

I've never thought of that; that's a good idea. My hubby won't allow bread
in the house, though. Sigh. I miss bread and pasta.

kili

My hubby won't allow bread
> in the house, though. Sigh. I miss bread and pasta.
>
> kili
>
>

Just tell him, "No bread-No bred" ;~)
H

Hairy wrote:
> My hubby won't allow bread
>> in the house, though. Sigh. I miss bread and pasta.
>>
>> kili
>>
>>
>
> Just tell him, "No bread-No bred" ;~)
> H

Should be "no bread, no bed". :-)

kili

James Egan wrote:

> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

My mother freaks when she sees me taste something and stick the
spoon back in, so if she is here I make sure that she sees me
wash it off before using it again. Otherwise, you don't want to
know what goes on in my kitchen. I do promise that if
something falls on the floor I will check it for dog hair
before it goes on a plate.

Dave Smith wrote:

>James Egan wrote:
>
>
>
>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>>
>>
>
>My mother freaks when she sees me taste something and stick the
>spoon back in, so if she is here I make sure that she sees me
>wash it off before using it again. Otherwise, you don't want to
>know what goes on in my kitchen. I do promise that if
>something falls on the floor I will check it for dog hair
>before it goes on a plate.
>
>
>
But do you actually remove the dog hair??? :-)

--
You wanna measure, or you wanna cook?

Bubba wrote:

>> > . I do promise that if
>> > something falls on the floor I will check it for dog
>> > hair
>> > before it goes on a plate.
>> >
>> >
> But do you actually remove the dog hair??? :-)

Well of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother checking for it
:-)

One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:

> I do promise that if something falls on the floor I will check it for
> dog hair before it goes on a plate.

*Smile* You reminded me of the time that Mom made us a chicken on
her rotisserie grill, and DH dropped it on the floor while removing
it from the spit. Fortunately she had just cleaned the floor the day
before -- we all had a good laugh and ate it anyway...

--
Jani in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same
way that bricks don't" - D. Adams, HGTTG

Gal Called Jani wrote:

> One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:
>
> > I do promise that if something falls on the floor I will check it for
> > dog hair before it goes on a plate.
>
> *Smile* You reminded me of the time that Mom made us a chicken on
> her rotisserie grill, and DH dropped it on the floor while removing
> it from the spit. Fortunately she had just cleaned the floor the day
> before -- we all had a good laugh and ate it anyway...

When we were much younger we invited some friends and their kids for
dinner. My wife cooked an orange chicken dish, and when she was taking it
out of the oven she dropped it and the food was all over the floor. My
friend, a doctor, said not to panic, the floor was reasonably clean and the
food was hot, so he scooped everything up and put in on the serving platter
while delegating me to fill up a pan with cold water for my wife to soak
her foot in, and his daughter to get a rag and wipe up the floor.

He made my wife soak her food in the cold water though the entire first
course.

One time on Usenet, Dave Smith > said:

<snip>

> When we were much younger we invited some friends and their kids for
> dinner. My wife cooked an orange chicken dish, and when she was taking it
> out of the oven she dropped it and the food was all over the floor. My
> friend, a doctor, said not to panic, the floor was reasonably clean and the
> food was hot, so he scooped everything up and put in on the serving platter
> while delegating me to fill up a pan with cold water for my wife to soak
> her foot in, and his daughter to get a rag and wipe up the floor.
>
> He made my wife soak her food in the cold water though the entire first
> course.

They sound like lovely people, Dave. Good friends are the salt of the
earth...

--
Jani in WA ~ mom, vid gamer, novice cook ~
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same
way that bricks don't" - D. Adams, HGTTG

>
> When we were much younger we invited some friends and their kids for
> dinner. My wife cooked an orange chicken dish, and when she was taking it
> out of the oven she dropped it and the food was all over the floor. My
> friend, a doctor, said not to panic, the floor was reasonably clean and
the
> food was hot, so he scooped everything up and put in on the serving
platter
> while delegating me to fill up a pan with cold water for my wife to soak
> her foot in, and his daughter to get a rag and wipe up the floor.
>
> He made my wife soak her food in the cold water though the entire first
> course.
>

This seems like rather unusual punishment for spilling the food. I hope her
foot was clean. ;~)
H

Hairy wrote:

> and wipe up the floor.
> >
> > He made my wife soak her food in the cold water though the entire first
> > course.
> >
>
> This seems like rather unusual punishment for spilling the food. I hope her
> foot was clean. ;~)

LOL. It was to cool her foot and stop the burn. It worked. Despite dropping all
the hot food and sauce on her foot she had only a mild burn.

Dave Smith wrote:
> James Egan wrote:
>
>> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
> My mother freaks when she sees me taste something and stick the
> spoon back in, so if she is here I make sure that she sees me
> wash it off before using it again. Otherwise, you don't want to
> know what goes on in my kitchen. I do promise that if
> something falls on the floor I will check it for dog hair
> before it goes on a plate.

I've done that! But I check for cat hair. :-)

kili

James Egan wrote:

> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Transmission of hepatitis would be the main concern. People do not
necessarily know they have it.

gtoomey

Gregory Toomey wrote:
> James Egan wrote:
>
>
>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
>
> Transmission of hepatitis would be the main concern. People do not
> necessarily know they have it.
>
> gtoomey

Well, my family and friends are still alive after doing the same as
James for 25 years, so I guess it can't be all that lethal...

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:10:58 -0400, James Egan >
wrote:

>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains

I taste-test with a clean teaspoon... then just put into the sink with
the dirty dishes - it can get washed later! There are some things that
are utterly ruined by the addition of saliva - like milk dishes. I
learnt that the hard way when I was quite young. You don't want to see
a custard that's been 'double-dipped' and left to stand in the fridge
overnight. For most things however, it doesn't make a jot of
difference. I still try to avoid it though - my mother taught me that
it was 'not nice'.
~Karen aka Kajikit
Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life
http://www.kajikitscorner.com
*remove 'nospam' to reply

Karen AKA Kajikit wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:10:58 -0400, James Egan >
> wrote:
>
>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>
> I taste-test with a clean teaspoon... then just put into the sink with
> the dirty dishes - it can get washed later! There are some things that
> are utterly ruined by the addition of saliva - like milk dishes.

Sorry. No. You won't get enough saliva in the dish to matter. Any
enzymes present would be inactivated virtually instantaneously by the
heat and bacteria likewise. Doesn't leave much else to worry about

> I
> learnt that the hard way when I was quite young. You don't want to see
> a custard that's been 'double-dipped' and left to stand in the fridge
> overnight.

*Any* custard that's been cut or damaged by *any* means will purge
liquid. That's called syneresis. It happens with all gels including sour
cream, yogurt and most puddings. Happens with starch and gum gels, too,
unless specifically formulated to avoid it. Jams and jellies will "weep"
over time. Has nothing to do with saliva or any of its ingredients.

Pastorio

> For most things however, it doesn't make a jot of
> difference. I still try to avoid it though - my mother taught me that
> it was 'not nice'.
> ~Karen aka Kajikit
> Crafts, cats, and chocolate - the three essentials of life
> http://www.kajikitscorner.com
> *remove 'nospam' to reply

"James Egan" > wrote in message
news
>
> Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

I use either a little bowl for tasting, or else I dump from the stirring
spoon onto the tasting spoon.

If my husband is around, I will set a cup full of clean teaspoons on the
stove next to the pot, because he's a double-dipper at times.

James Egan > wrote:

> Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

If just I and my partner are eating the food, not always. If *anyone*
else is eating, I just use a clean teaspoon for tasting every time.
It's easy and doesn't mean I have to wash the stirring spoon every time.

serene
--
http://serenejournal.livejournal.com
http://www.jhuger.com

James Egan wrote:
> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Heavens no. Not in my own home, anyway. Saliva breaks down the sauce?
I've never heard of such nonsense; it's not like you're spitting in the
sauce. Sounds to me like your wife is simply adverse to the same spoon
being used for stirring vs. tasting. Work the issue out amongst yourselves;
maybe she'll wash a bunch of tasting spoons for you and then wash them all
again when the sauce is done

Jill

In article >,
James Egan > wrote:

> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Yes, I do, or I use a new spoon. The issue isn't enzymes, it's bacteria.

Miche

--
WWMVD?

Miche wrote:
> In article >,
> James Egan > wrote:
>
>
>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
> Yes, I do, or I use a new spoon. The issue isn't enzymes, it's bacteria.

If you're tasting stuff that's cooking at anything approaching a simmer,
there's nothing important going to survive it. While cooking, your food
is essentially sterile. And sterilizing anything you put into it.

Pastorio

In article >,
Miche > wrote:

> In article >,
> James Egan > wrote:
>
> > While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> > sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> > that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> > will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> > that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> > break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> > amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> > have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> > slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> > your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
> Yes, I do, or I use a new spoon. The issue isn't enzymes, it's bacteria.

I never use a tasting spoon to cook with, even for food I cook for
myself. What's the big deal? I always keep a little bowl on the side of
the stove with a serving utensil in it so I avoid dirtying my counter. I
simply use the serving utensil to ladle place a bit of food onto a small
plate then I use a different utensil to taste the food. The tasting
utensil is usually the same one I use to eat with when I am ready to sit
down and eat a full portion of whatever it is I am cooking.

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 23:10:58 -0400, James Egan >
wrote:

>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>


Well, half the time I use my finger.

A little dip, taste, and sometimes a redip.

padam wrote:
> James Egan wrote:
>
> >While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> >sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> >that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> >will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> >that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> >break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> >amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> >have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> >slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> >your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>
>
> Well, half the time I use my finger.
>
> A little dip, taste, and sometimes a redip.

That's more disgusting than spoon licking... yoose gots to be a filthy
guido wop.

Sheldon

On 30 Apr 2005 09:47:37 -0700, "Sheldon" > wrote:

>
>padam wrote:
>> James Egan wrote:
>>
>> >While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>> >sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>> >that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>> >will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>> >that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>> >break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>> >amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>> >have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>> >slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>> >your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>>
>>
>> Well, half the time I use my finger.
>>
>> A little dip, taste, and sometimes a redip.
>
>That's more disgusting than spoon licking... yoose gots to be a filthy
>guido wop.
>
>Sheldon


You should see how I make doughnuts.

James Egan wrote:
> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>

Is it really that much trouble to walk over to the sink and wash off a
spoon? When someone says they use the same spoon for stirring as for
tasting it makes me wonder about their other habits when it comes to
sanitation. Besides, whether it's sanitary or not, the COURTEOUS thing
to do would be to use a clean spoon.

>
> James Egan wrote:
>> While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>> sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>> that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>> will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>> that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>> break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>> amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>> have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>> slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>> your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>

Hey, "they" make cooking spoons specifically for tasting. You spoon up
sauce with the stirring end, tilt to spoon to transfer the sauce via a
trough (or whatever) to the tasting end. We're not talking a big buck item,
just a different type of wooden spoon.

Pam

pjjehg wrote:
>>James Egan wrote:
>>
>>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>>>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>>>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>>>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>>>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>>>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>>>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>>>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>>>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>>
>
> Hey, "they" make cooking spoons specifically for tasting. You spoon up
> sauce with the stirring end, tilt to spoon to transfer the sauce via a
> trough (or whatever) to the tasting end. We're not talking a big buck item,
> just a different type of wooden spoon.
>
> Pam
>
>


And then all that slobber runs back when you tilt the spoon forward.
Yuck! ;-)

Bob

djs0302 wrote:

> Is it really that much trouble to walk over to the sink and wash off a
> spoon? When someone says they use the same spoon for stirring as for
> tasting it makes me wonder about their other habits when it comes to
> sanitation. Besides, whether it's sanitary or not, the COURTEOUS thing
> to do would be to use a clean spoon.

Look at it this way. For the most part they are talking about tasting
things that are boiling on the stove. The spoon goes back into boiling hot
liquid. Given the choice between something that has been washed in hot
water and detergent, or boiling liquid, I'll take the boiling liquid.

Dave Smith wrote:
> djs0302 wrote:
>
> > Is it really that much trouble to walk over to the sink and wash
off a
> > spoon? When someone says they use the same spoon for stirring as
for
> > tasting it makes me wonder about their other habits when it comes
to
> > sanitation. Besides, whether it's sanitary or not, the COURTEOUS
thing
> > to do would be to use a clean spoon.
>
> Look at it this way. For the most part they are talking about tasting
> things that are boiling on the stove. The spoon goes back into
boiling hot
> liquid. Given the choice between something that has been washed in
hot
> water and detergent, or boiling liquid, I'll take the boiling liquid.


If you're the only one eating what you're cooking then that's fine, but
I don't want to eat something that has somebody else's spit in it.

djs0302 wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>>
>> Look at it this way. For the most part they are talking about
>> tasting things that are boiling on the stove. The spoon goes back
>> into boiling hot liquid. Given the choice between something that
>> has been washed in hot water and detergent, or boiling liquid, I'll
>> take the boiling liquid.
>
>
>
> If you're the only one eating what you're cooking then that's fine,
> but I don't want to eat something that has somebody else's spit in
> it.
>


If they'll slobber on the spoon while you are watching, just *imagine*
what they do with it when nobody is looking! HTH :-)

Best regards,
Bob

> James Egan wrote:
>
>>While cooking something like spaghetti sauce, I taste the
>>sauce (or gravy) occasionally to test. My wife maintains
>>that I should clean the spoon each time, because my saliva
>>will adversely affect the sauce (or whatever). I understand
>>that saliva contains enzymes and that their purpose is to
>>break down food. However, I cannot believe that the trace
>>amount of saliva on a spoon used to test the sauce will
>>have any significantly adverse affect. It's not like I
>>slobber on the spoon! Anyway, do YOU always wash
>>your spoon after tasting? Be honest! <g>
>

Came to the conclusion (after 150 posts) that it MIGHT be Okay....