Left an uncooked roast in the car

[pearlieq]

As long as it still felt cool and looks/smells OK when you go to cook it, I would be fine with it.

I would, however, cook it all the way through to well done.

 

[Coll0610]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'm going to throw it out. I was going to use it to cook dinner for my sister's family but she is having chemo right now so I definitely don't want to take any chances. I could save it for us, but I think I would be too worried to about it to enjoy it.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I grew up being told "When in doubt, throw it out" I think you did the right thing....its happened to most of us

 

[Green Tea]

An hour and a half? I would eat it without thinking twice. Food sits in my car trunk that long at times just trying to get home from the store. I thought you were going to say overnight and that would be Eeewwwww. But a still feeling cold roast 90 minutes later....I wouldn't even think about.

 

[LilyWDW]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'm going to throw it out. I was going to use it to cook dinner for my sister's family but she is having chemo right now so I definitely don't want to take any chances. I could save it for us, but I think I would be too worried to about it to enjoy it.

I understand your position with you sister. I think in your case it would be in the best interest not to serve it when you were planning.

I do however think it would be fine to serve to anyone else. Heck, I still remember when my grandma and my mother have thawed food on the counter over the years. Never did I get sick from anything cooked at home. Personally, I would not have thought twice about making the roast and eating it.

 

[FayeW]

So, despite over half the posts on this thread, including one from someone certified is food safety, telling you that your roast was fine, you are throwing out a roast that was still cold...not even to room temperature yet. Makes me wonder why you bothered to ask what you should do.

 

[krcit]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'm going to throw it out. I was going to use it to cook dinner for my sister's family but she is having chemo right now so I definitely don't want to take any chances. I could save it for us, but I think I would be too worried to about it to enjoy it.

I would've thrown it out also. I tend to err on the side of caution with stuff like that and no way would I take a chance of your sister getting sick.

 

[Justsyd2]

I would've thrown it out also. I tend to err on the side of caution with stuff like that and no way would I take a chance of your sister getting sick.

I would have done the same. I think that you made the right choice.

 

[Luvchefmic]

So, despite over half the posts on this thread, including one from someone certified is food safety, telling you that your roast was fine, you are throwing out a roast that was still cold...not even to room temperature yet. Makes me wonder why you bothered to ask what you should do.

she asked for opinions and then made her decision I don't see the problem

 

[Dopey Sharon]

For the record, food shouldn't be left in the "danger zone" for more than two hours, not four.

I think you did the right thing too...even though you were within the time limit, I'm sure your car was very hot. I wouldn't take that chance, especially on someone who is sick already.

 

[tadamom]

I'm sorry but I would toss it too. I would be so worried about someone getting sick that I just wouldn't be able to eat it.

 

[pepperderr]

All I can say is I had food poisioning before from eating bad meat. We were camping and I said I didn't think it was any good and DH said it was fine so I ate it. It tasted really good so I couldn't tell there was a problem. He threw up once the next day and was fine. I was throwing up for 2 or 3 days. My stomach hurt sooo bad. It was HORRIBLE. It was way worse than any flu I ever had. I would never chance it. I too have left out meat because I forgot but I always throw it out. I would never want to chance my kids getting sick like I did that time. I am glad you threw it out!

pepperderr

 

[csharpwv]

I would not throw the roast away - yet.
I would plan to cook it early this week and smell the meat all over before you cook it.
The smell of meat tells whether it is safe to eat or not.
If the meat smells like bloody beef - I'd say you are good to go.
However, if the meat has even the slightest smell - I'd toss it and order pizza.

If it was still cool all over, and not at all hot - you should be fine.

 

[Nandid]

My husband is a meat cutter and he says if it still feels cold its ok. Bad meat will have a sour smell. He said think about how long meat sits in the store cutting room before it it ever gets wrapped and put on the shelf for you to buy. He says the average is about 60 to 90 minutes anyway. They have alot to cut and they get all that done and than wrap it.

He said if it smells off throw it. If it still has a fresh smell its ok. The drive from my husbands work to home is about 75 minutes so meat sits in the car that long when he brings it home. Sometimes longer.. depends on traffic and all that. In 21 years never got sick from anything my hubby has brought home.

 

[LBIJim]

Any opinions? I hate to throw it away, but my family's health is worth more than the few dollars it cost.

Well, there you go. Most likely it's probably OK, but if you're the least bit concerned, heave it.

Jim

P.S. About 20 years ago I forgot some raw chicken in the car overnight...in the middle of summer.......and didn't remember until late the next afternoon. YUCK!!! The horrible stench took weeks to go away.

 

[Zoesmama03]

That would depend on how long I walked around the grocery store with it after I pulled it out of the refrigerated meat section. If it was A bag like it sounds then probably not long and I would cook it good(that night if possible) and be sure its thoroughly cooked well done.


If you think about it people get theirs and run through pharmacy lines and other short quick errands all the time and by the time you get home its been a hour or more already. So if you were in and out I definitely say its gonna be fine. You could salt it well and pretend we are in the times before refrigerates were invented.

I forgot 3 bags in my trunk yesterday. It was HOURS later but fortunately all of it was non perishable stuff. I was worried about the Parmesan cheese sprinkles but it tastes and smells fine. We were a lot hotter than 89.

 

[SDSorority]

OP- I think you did the right thing for throwing it out. I would have, too... but I'm a vegetarian

 

[pipermae]

I know the OP already posted that she threw it out, but for anyone else who may run into this problem in the future:

"Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 ° and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone." That's why the Meat and Poultry Hotline advises consumers to never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 °F, food should not be left out more than 1 hour."

The quote from above and other information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/how_temperatures_affect_food/index.asp

I hope this helps!

 

[mamaLori05]

I think you did the right thing also. I would have thrown it out, not worth the chance. EXPECIALLY since you were serving it to others.

 

[krcit]

I know the OP already posted that she threw it out, but for anyone else who may run into this problem in the future:

"Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 ° and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone." That's why the Meat and Poultry Hotline advises consumers to never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90 °F, food should not be left out more than 1 hour."

The quote from above and other information can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/how_temperatures_affect_food/index.asp

I hope this helps!

Also remember this was in a closed car so even though the outside temp was 90, the car was probably well over 100.