Left an uncooked roast in the car

[Coll0610]

I don't know where my head was, but when I got home from the store yesterday I forgot to bring in the bag of groceries. I had a 5lb beef roast and a couple of other non-perishables in there. I remembered after about 90 minutes. It was about 85 degrees out. The roast still felt cold. I put it in the frig, but I'm not sure if it's safe to eat. Any opinions? I hate to throw it away, but my family's health is worth more than the few dollars it cost.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

I don't know where my head was, but when I got home from the store yesterday I forgot to bring in the bag of groceries. I had a 5lb beef roast and a couple of other non-perishables in there. I remembered after about 90 minutes. It was about 85 degrees out. The roast still felt cold. I put it in the frig, but I'm not sure if it's safe to eat. Any opinions? I hate to throw it away, but my family's health is worth more than the few dollars it cost.

I think if it still felt cold, then it would be OK. I personally would not be concerned.

 

[Carina]

Foodsafe regulations state that food can be left in the "danger zone" of temprature for 4 hours. You are fine to eat that roast.

The danger zone is essentially the temprature between the fridge and the oven.

I know what it is in C but not F, if you care you can google it, but your car at 90 was definatly danger zone...lol

Your memory at 90 mins was well within the safe limit...

 

[Inigo]

I'd make sure I cooked the roast to until there is no red left at all, probably well-done.

 

[worm761]

I am with Carina on this. It is fine to eat. I am food safety certified until next year when I have to take the course again. Your roast should be fine to eat.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I would throw it away. While it is probably safe, there would be no way I could eat it, and if I won't eat it how could I feed it to my family. I am weird about the age of food and probably throw away a lot of leftovers that are probably still edible though.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I'd fix it. There is no reason to throw it out. Does it creep anyone else out that nice resaurants age meat for ages? ick! lol!

 

[clutter]

If it makes you feel better, I left $15 worth of salmon sitting on the counter for 6 hours yesterday! Just forgot to put it in the fridge. What a waste. By the time I went to cook it, it was so late, we had to have carryout. Talk about expensive!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I agree with those that say cook it well and then eat it.

 

[luvmy3]

I'd fix it. There is no reason to throw it out. Does it creep anyone else out that nice resaurants age meat for ages? ick! lol!

That is in a temp. controlled environment so they know that the meat never goes below a temp that would make it unsafe.

OP, it sounds like you were in a safe window so I would still cook it. I leave my steaks out to reach almost room temp to put on the grill and never had a problem.

On a side note, I have done things like that all the time. I unload all my groceries into the garage and then bring them into the kitchen. Sometimes I will leave canned goods or boxed items out there until later but have realized that I left something that was supposed to go into the fridge.
The other day I made a chicken recipe in the crockpot. I had started it late so I was just going to cook and re-heat the next day. When it was done, I took the stoneware out and set it on the counter to cool a little before I put it into the fridge. I went into bed to read and forgot all about it, found it still sitting on the counter the next morning

 

[edk35]

Remember that car temps (closed up) are a lot hotter than actual air temps outside. I would chunk and not worry about the cost.

 

[edk35]

I would throw it away. While it is probably safe, there would be no way I could eat it, and if I won't eat it how could I feed it to my family. I am weird about the age of food and probably throw away a lot of leftovers that are probably still edible though.

I do too. My husband has gotten ILL several times over our almost 22 year marriage from eating leftovers past their prime.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

That is in a temp. controlled environment so they know that the meat never goes below a temp that would make it unsafe.

OP, it sounds like you were in a safe window so I would still cook it. I leave my steaks out to reach almost room temp to put on the grill and never had a problem.

On a side note, I have done things like that all the time. I unload all my groceries into the garage and then bring them into the kitchen. Sometimes I will leave canned goods or boxed items out there until later but have realized that I left something that was supposed to go into the fridge.
The other day I made a chicken recipe in the crockpot. I had started it late so I was just going to cook and re-heat the next day. When it was done, I took the stoneware out and set it on the counter to cool a little before I put it into the fridge. I went into bed to read and forgot all about it, found it still sitting on the counter the next morning

Oh, I know. It still icks me out. When we eat a Morton's I don't read the description!

 

[summerrluvv]

I would toss it.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

Personally, I would toss it too. While it may be ok I wouldn't be able to chance it with the family. Sorry, I have done similar things before.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

There is no way I would eat that. That's gross. Throw it out. It is not worth the risk.

 

[blessedby3]

I'd toss it too. If it were wintertime, then I wouldnt worry so much, but with it being summer--toss, toss, toss.

 

[SandrA9810]

Danger zone is considered 40 - 140 degrees F. Foods are still safe for up to 4hrs, and once frozen or cooked will kill all the germs. I mean, it's read meat after all, there's already a bunch of bacteria on it that you have to kill to begin with.

 

[hambirg]

Wow. . .I wouldn't have any problem eating it, as long as it looks and smells ok. There are some pretty nasty, rotten foods that are considered delicacies in some cultures. . .I don't think I would try those. But a raw roast that was left in the car that is still cold. . .I wouldn't have any problems. . .like I said. . as long as it looked and smelled ok.

 

[treehugnmama]

what I would do is cook it then through it out because I couldn't eat it lol many many times i have made huge pots of sauce or soups than forgot to put them away....i always heat them up and then end up throwing them out because i can't eat it .

seriously in car in the heat i would toss it...it sucks we have all done it but toss it.