How long can I keep seafood and produce out of the refrigerator?

I want to pick up groceries on my lunch break but I need to get seafood and produce. If I bring these items into the office (about 72 degrees) how long will it last?

It’s items like crab legs, scallops, apples, lettuce

Thank you

Here are some tips that will help you know what to do so that your seafood will stay fresh longer:
Tips on what to look for when you buy seafood:

1. Check the reputation of the retailer. Ask family and friends where they buy their seafood. Someplace that has a good reputation is a great place to start.

2. Smell – The location should not have stench. There should be a gentle smell of the sea but not of rotting seafood or fish. Any type of out of date odor is not something you should be comfortable with.

General Appearance – Does the place look clean? Does it look like things are kept in good repair? What you see in the front or retail area is usually the most presentable. So if the front looks bad then the area behind closed doors is probably not something you want to see or purchase from. The seafood itself should look like it was freshly caught. The texture should look moist, fresh and firm. The eyes should look clear and have a plump look. The eyes should never be sunken.

Make sure and have an ice chest – You want to make sure you have something to keep the seafood cool for the journey home. An ice chest or some type of chiller bag is a must. Being prepared makes all the difference. It is best to purchase your seafood only when you are going straight home.

Storing your seafood at home – As soon as possible make sure and place your seafood in the refrigerator if you do not plan to cook it right away. Never allow the seafood to sit it’s own juice. Keep it in the coldest part of the refrigerator and cover with ice. Never allow fish or seafood to sit not cooled for any length of time.

Keeping your seafood in the freezer – You should freeze seafood as soon as possible and when it is as fresh as possible. When freezing fish it is best to filet it rather than freezing it whole. If you are going to freeze the fish whole make sure and clean and gut if first. You should however leave the scales on. Wrap the fish in a plastic wrap then place inside a freezer bag. Make sure and remove all air from the bag. Place in the freezer with a label and date on the outside.

Shrimp should be frozen in a block or encased in ice type form.

These are just a couple of suggestions to help you in storing seafood. Make sure that if the seafood or fish has a strong smell you throw it out rather than take a chance.

Duration : 0:5:37

http://www.chinghehuang.com/

http://www.mogu.com.tw/

Ching shows a fish buyer at the market how to make one of her favourite sauces of all time, black bean sauce, serving it with scallops and noodles.
Ingredients
For the scallops with noodles
75g/3oz dried vermicelli noodles
8 scallops, removed from the shells, de-bearded and coral removed, shells cleaned and reserved
For the black bean sauce
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2.5cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, peeled, finely chopped
1 red chilli, de-seeded, finely chopped
1 tbsp fermented salted black beans, washed and crushed into a paste (available from Asian grocers)
1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
2 tbsp light soy sauce
3 tbsp water
To serve
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives or spring onions

Method
1. For the scallops with noodles, soak the dried vermicelli in a bowl of just-boiled water for 5-6 minutes, or until tender. Drain well, then chop into 10cm/4in lengths and set aside.
2. Place the cleaned scallops back into their shells.
3. For the black bean sauce, mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Spoon a teaspoon of the sauce on top of each scallop and gently rub into the scallop flesh.
4. Wrap some of the soft vermicelli noodles around each scallop, then spoon one teaspoon of water around the noodles. (This helps to keep the noodles moist and works to create a sauce when combined with the steamed juices of the scallops.)
5. Divide the scallop shells between two heatproof serving plates and place each plate into a bamboo steamer, placing one steamer on top of the other. Place the steamers over a pan or wok of boiling water (making sure the water does not touch the base of the steamer), cover, and steam over a high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the scallops are cooked through. If you do not have a bamboo steamer, place the shells onto a large heatproof plate set on a rack in a roasting tray. Fill the roasting tray with boiling water from the kettle. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4, cover the whole roasting tray with foil and place into the oven to steam for 4-5 minutes.
5. To serve, serve the scallops in the bamboo steamers, or remove the plates from the steamer and serve on the plates. Sprinkle over the chopped chives or spring onions and serve immediately.

Duration : 0:4:36

Expert: Karl James
Bio: Karl James is the owner of a small private catering company named CREOLESOUL which specializes in Creole cuisine, but offers any type of cuisine desired.
Filmmaker: Dana Glover

Duration : 0:2:27

Duration : 0:5:41

Expert: Karl James
Bio: Karl James owns a small private catering company named CREOLESOUL, which specializes in creole cuisine. He has been cooking for friends and family for more than 30 years.
Filmmaker: Dana Glover

Duration : 0:1:41

Twitter: @cookwithcathy
FB: facebook.com/cookingwithcathy

Duration : 0:6:11

Expert: Karl James
Bio: Karl James owns a small private catering company named CREOLESOUL, which specializes in creole cuisine. He has been cooking for friends and family for more than 30 years.
Filmmaker: Dana Glover

Duration : 0:2:7

Expert: Karl James
Bio: Karl James owns a small private catering company named CREOLESOUL, which specializes in creole cuisine. He has been cooking for friends and family for more than 30 years.
Filmmaker: Dana Glover

Duration : 0:1:38

http://www.chinghehuang.com/

http://www.mogu.com.tw/

Ching makes Chinese-style fish and chips with roast sweet potato chilli chips and Gong bao haddock goujons
Ingredients
For the haddock goujons
1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
1 tbsp peeled and grated fresh root ginger
1 small spring onion, finely chopped
340g/12oz haddock fillets, cut into strips
1 tbsp crushed dried chillies
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp white pepper
100g/3½oz dry breadcrumbs
100g/3½oz plain flour
2 free-range eggs, beaten
groundnut oil, for deep-frying
For the gong bao sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp crushed dried chilli flakes
1 tbsp cornflour, mixed with 2 tbsp cold water, to thicken
To serve
roasted sweet potato chips

Method
1. For the haddock goujons, mix the Shaoxing rice wine, grated ginger and chopped spring onion together in a shallow bowl and add the fish strips. Cover with cling film and leave to marinate in the fridge for 20 minutes.
2. Mix the dried chillies, sea salt and white pepper together with the breadcrumbs in a bowl, then tip onto a plate or tray. Dip the marinated strips of fish into the flour, then into the beaten egg, then roll in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture. Pat lightly to secure the breadcrumbs to the fish, then shake off any excess. Repeat with all of the fish strips.
3. Quarter-fill a wok with groundnut oil and heat until a small cube of bread dropped in sizzles and turns golden-brown in 15 seconds. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Add the fish goujons in small batches and deep-fry for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Repeat with the remaining fish goujons.
4. For the gong bao sauce, heat all of the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan, and, if necessary, thicken with the cornflour and water mixture. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small bowl or ramekin for dipping.
5. To serve, pile the fish goujons onto a serving plate and place the bowl of gong bao sauce on the side. Serve immediately with roast sweet potato wedges

Duration : 0:6:56