A poll on the Food GPS Facebook page illuminated an important issue facing the culinary world. Certain foods and drinks are just not built to last. Some culinary products start to lose their life force within seconds of production. I started off the poll by asking one question – “What food/drink do you think loses the most impact after sitting for 10 minutes?” – and providing three options: French fries, espresso and pizza. Facebook Friends added other possibilities. The poll closed with people casting 38 votes. The winner/loser was “a cocktail with bad ice” with 10 votes, followed closely by “French fries” with 9 votes and “espresso” with 8 votes.

Respondents added further insights. For instance, Daniel Drennon said, “French fries taste like cardboard after 5.”

Aaron Chan added, “Fried foods to decline over time more rapidly than other forms of preparation, but the greatest cause of death for fried foods is steam. I never order fried foods for delivery unless I know the place takes proper care in ventilating their takeout.”

“The truth is that anything fried should be eaten right away,” says writer/editor Tara De Lis. “As I am known to say, ‘You know the only thing worse than bad fried chicken? Good fried chicken that’s been sitting too long!’”

Table Conversation founder Barbara Hansen wrote, “For my taste, anything hot is not pleasant if it cools off, and significant cooling can take place in 10 minutes. Soup, especially, and coffee lose their brightness…And drinks with ice in them. I shake up margaritas with ice, then usually strain the ice out. But sometimes I leave it in, and very rapidly the ice melts and the drink begins to taste watery.”

Cognoscenti Coffee founder Yeekai Lim singled out “Any espresso and milk steamed beverage separates after a few minutes,” adding, “French onion soup is just not as good once the cheese hardens…probably in 10min.”

What do you think? Is there any fleeting food or drink that we missed? Anything you’d like to add? Please chime in with a Comment below.