Meat Left Out on Counterop

Updated on July 03, 2019
❤.M. asks from Santa Monica, CA
10 answers

Oh no, I left out some new packages of meat that I bought yesterday (chicken and sausages). They were left out overnight for 12 hours. Best to toss and not take the chance, right?? I would rather be safe than sorry. Bummer.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I am sorry. I have made that mistake as well. I think we all have done it.

When in doubt, throw it out

6 moms found this helpful

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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

Ug! Yes, it's best to just toss it. Wow, I really hate when that happens.

The other day my son carried in groceries and set them down where I didn't notice ... for about 30 minutes. I was so mad! We had a little talk about how carrying in groceries means unpacking them and putting them away (not just carrying the bag in from the car).

So sorry this happened to you. That really stinks.

5 moms found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from New York on

Too risky. Especially around steamy July weather. You'll sleep better about it if you toss and don't risk it.

5 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Any meat un refrigerated for more than 2 hours needs to be thrown away.
It's just not worth the botulism, salmonella, and/or ptomaine poisoning that might result from eating it.

4 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Definitely toss, unfortunately. It's been some years since I was last food-safe certified but when I was, it was explained that foodborne illness is most likely to occur when food that should be either hot or cold is at a temperature between 40 and 140 (Fahrenheit) for 4 hours or more, total, which includes time at the packing plant, on a truck, at the grocery store, in your cart, at your house, while you're getting ready to cook, after you've cooked and haven't put the leftovers away, etc. Many of those points are refrigerated but there are times when packaged meat sits out waiting to be put in a walk-in fridge, etc. and is above 40 degrees. As a general rule, 2 hours from when you put the meat in your shopping cart to getting it in your fridge or freezer is safe. Anything after that is inviting illness.

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N.K.

answers from Miami on

Definitely, not worth the possible hospital bills from foodborne illnesses, missed work, and overall malaise from food poisoning. My mom leaves cooked food out a bit, until it is room temperature, before putting it in the fridge, we have even taken leftovers from the restaurant and left them in the car while seeing a movie (we obviously nuke it in the microwave when it's time to eat), but if it's raw, she would never leave anything out longer than say, an hour, and in that case, she'd probably freeze it or if she refrigerates it, she cooks it the next day (I always call her for advice or questions on food handling since I'm a rookie compared to her).

12 hours is definitely way too long. Don't feel bad, it happened to me too, I had lots of groceries and put the pack of frozen chicken breasts in the kitchen sink, with the intent to open the package up and ration the portions into freezer safe bags, problem is, I never used the deep kitchen sink that night so it sat overnight. The next morning I awoke to the warm chicken and had to toss it in the trash, and go out for groceries again, since that was supposed to be my dinner for the week. At least it's enough of a sticking point for me now that I not only double check but triple check for any groceries left out before going out or going to bed.

4 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I'm not a germaphobe, but there's no question here - toss it.

4 moms found this helpful

W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

if they are not cool to the touch? I'd toss them. Bacteria grows fast on meat.

Sorry!!

3 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i'm pretty laissez-faire about this sort of thing, but 12 hours? ish. no, weep a little and toss them.

damn, i hate throwing out food.

khairete
S.

3 moms found this helpful
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N.Z.

answers from Columbus on

throw them out and buy new ones.

Updated

throw them out and buy new ones.

Updated

throw them out and buy new ones.

Updated

throw them out and buy new ones.

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