Don Schaffner
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bugcounter.bsky.social
Don Schaffner
@bugcounter.bsky.social
Distinguished Professor, Extension Specialist and podcaster.

Views my own.

The best way to get your topic covered on our Risky or Not podcast is to use this link: bit.ly/RiskyorNot
Egg nog is a popular topic this time of year, so answer a slightly different version of one we've answered before
879. Homemade Egg Nog Over 2 Years Old — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking homemade egg nog over 2 years old- Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
January 21, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Today's episode is a bit silly and points out the cultures sometimes obsession with germs
878. Not UV Sterilizing Coffee Scoop After Use — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of not UV sterilizing coffee scoop after use. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
January 19, 2026 at 6:21 PM
In this episode www.riskyornot.co/ep... I was really thinking it might be #NotRisky, but then pesky evidence got in the way.
877. One Liter of Water From an "Uncontrolled" Sintra Portugal Water Fountain — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking water from an "uncontrolled" Sintra Portugal water fountain. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️
www.riskyornot.co
January 16, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I had a bit of fun making the image for this one www.riskyornot.co/ep... with ChatGPT. I knew better than to try to fix the arrows as I was pretty sure it would only make it worse.
876. Continuously Reusing an Unwashed French Press for Coffee and Tea — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from continuously reusing an unwashed french press for coffee and tea. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
January 14, 2026 at 7:26 PM
I was really relieved to see that in today's episode www.riskyornot.co/ep... we are consistent all the way back to episode 14.
875. OneTrueJustin's Parents Half Eaten Banana — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving a half a cut banana at room temperature for 24 hours. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️
www.riskyornot.co
January 12, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Don Schaffner
The emergence of George, who wears the hat so the party will find him:
January 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
This was a long one www.riskyornot.co/ep..., and Ben and I talk about why this is risky and why science might be able to help.
874. Dry Canning Potatoes — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from pressure canning cooked potatoes without added water. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️
www.riskyornot.co
January 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Don Schaffner
here's this vintage jeopardy clip with ken jennings
January 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM
In today's episode www.riskyornot.co/ep... hang our hats on the idea that this risk is being appropriately managed by the restaurant.
873. Leftover Conveyer Belt Sushi — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating leftover conveyer belt sushi. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
January 8, 2026 at 12:06 AM
This www.riskyornot.co/ep... was an interesting episode, I got into a bit of an argument with ChatGPT after it told me that the medium rare chicken in the image was unsafe chatgpt.com/share/69...
872. Medium Rare Chicken — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating medium rare (not ground) chicken. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
January 5, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Don Schaffner
An old one, but great by James Acaster
January 1, 2026 at 3:07 AM
This is another one where the risks are not really microbiological. Using a metal drill bit in a glass (or plastic) container seems foolish.
870. A Smoothie Made With a Cordless Drill — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from making a smoothie using a cordless drill. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Sheeeeeeeeeeit.
December 31, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I'm not sure that's even mold but whatever it is it's not risky. I think I convinced Ben it's not ice cream either.
869. Moldy Clay — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from moldy clay. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Don Schaffner
still not too late to get vaccinated!
December 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
In today's episode, I was much more worried about physical risk, not microbiological risk. Boiling a sealed can seems like a bad idea.
868. Homemade Caramel Sauce Left Out Over Night — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving homemade caramel sauce out over night. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
This episode is a perfect example of why we do the show. Take a seemingly naïve question and expand on why it's a good question, and what we think about it: www.riskyornot.co/ep...

More frustrating adventures with the artist ChattyG: chatgpt.com/share/69...
867. Using Tongs — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using tongs to pick up food. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 24, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Note that in the original, Alton did not have fish in the cooler, I just added them for laughs. Don't actually thaw your chicken with goldfish.
866. Thawing Chicken With an Aquarium Pump — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using an aquarium pump to circulate the water to aid in thawing a chicken in a cooler of water. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Nice episode about a topic I have wanted to discuss for a while. www.riskyornot.co/ep...

To see how poorly ChatGPT understands spatial relationships, take a look at this: chatgpt.com/share/69...

Bonus points if you understand the significance of 84°F.
865. Cleaning a Food Thermometer With Just Water — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cleaning a food thermometer with just water. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Reposted by Don Schaffner
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.

Holy. Shit.

www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Honestly if you just read the Brooklyn Subreddit post, you'll get most of the way there in terms of our own analysis:
864. Tap Water From a Sketchy Bathroom Sink — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking tapwater from a bathroom sink where the bathroom smells like a bathroom. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This episode is for anyone who wants to hear Ben and I talk way too much about sinks, drains and drain plugs
863. Taking a Pill Dropped in the Bathroom Sink — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from taking a pill dropped in the bathroom sink for less than five seconds. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 15, 2025 at 11:33 PM
It was an editorial decision to use a hippie in the image. Not that hippies are dirty... He does have a kind of John Roderick vibe, although famously John is more of a preppy.
862. Wearing "New" Clothes Without Washing — Risky or Not?
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of wearing "new" (to you) clothes without washing first. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
www.riskyornot.co
December 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM