WWYD?? Beef Left out on Counter Overnight

[CF'er]

I have to thaw on the counter as it takes days in the Fridge. I would do the smell/taste thing. In my house it would be cooked and eaten.

Now chicken.... that's another story.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I do this all the time, maybe I'm flirting with disaster but it just wouldn't bother me

I do it all the time too. Of course, I eat eggs that are 3 months out of date also....I'm still alive.

I wouldn't do this with poultry but any kind of red meat....yeah - I would eat it.

 

[Melisa1]

no question - throw it away!

 

[CheshireVal]

I'd throw it out.

Then again, I wouldn't defrost anything by leaving it on the kitchen counter, either! (I'm a little *too* careful with food sometimes!)

 

[Minnesota!]

Well, considering I thaw meat by leaving it on my counter all day, I wouldn't have any problem with it. I take it out, throw it in a bowl (still in the tin foil/wrap I froze it in) and leave it on the counter until it is soft enough to use. I have been doing this for the 7 years I have been on my own, and my mom did it (and still does) like this the entire 22 years I lived at home. Never been sick - nor has anyone I have served food to....

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Spoilage organisms are the one's you smell and taste, but they don't make you sick (other than the retch reflex). Food poisoning happens from bacteria you can't smell or taste. Some produce heat stable toxins that aren't destroyed at normal cooking temperatures. Throw it out!

BTW, I work for a local health department that inspects restaurants.

I'd listen to this poster for sure. Just not worth being sick over.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Cooking it will kill bacteria, but what happens with spoilage is that bacteria give off toxins and that is what makes you sick. Think of it like this, if you had arsenic in your food, cooking it wouldn't get rid of the arsenic, it would still be there. That's the same with the toxins.

What she said.

You'll kill the bacteria, but the toxins are already there. Throw it out.

That being said, my DH would eat it. He'll eat anything. Out of the garbage. Off the floor. I think he actually likes food poisoning.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm really fussy about meats and I'd definitely throw it out. I'd be bummed about it, but I'd toss it.

On the other hand, I accidentally left out a banana cream pie all night last night. Do you think I should toss it?

Oops, too late, I already ate it!

 

[Mkaz]

Bail it! Better safe than sorry. Have you ever seen a 2 year old with food poisoning? My DH and my DD (who was 2 at the time) both ended up with food poisoning from kielbasa that a friend gave us. NOT FUN!

 

[KristinBelle]

I'd throw it out but I'm paranoid when it comes to meats and stuff.

 

[TheGoofster]

You might be okay, but I´d probably throw it out and just chalk one up for experience. We get sick from parasites a lot and are getting used to them, but it´s still no fun and it´s costly-medicine and doctor´s visits probably cost more than the cost of the meat.

signed,
Mrs. The Goofster

 

[orljustin]

Well, this site says to pitch it:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-safety/NU00291

But I think I'd just go ahead and cook it. If it was still sealed in the packaging, it probably still had a lower temperature than room temperature this morning, especially since they were "large" - the center might still have been cold. Especially since late afternoon yesterday. Heck, we left a pizza out overnight the other day, put it in the fridge in the morning, and it was fine.

 

[Tantor]

I vote to toss...............

 

[glass- slippers]

I wouldn't take a chance, I'd toss it. What is $15-$20 when you might end up sick and spend more in medical expenses? Not worth it.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

well eat it, and your user name might very well turn into

LoveToCrap

 

[Allison]

I would never even considering eating it. Throw it away.

 

[Luv'sTink]

My sister leaves hers on the counter all day to defrost and my Mom used to. I use the fridge, it can take days but I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[bartleby1]

I'd throw it out.

Your family's health is worth more than the price of the meat. And, as others have mentioned, if it is bad, you'll spend more than that on treating the illness. It is NOT worth it. I have a friend who almost died from food poisoning in college. It is a SERIOUS issue. Food poisoning may only make you throw up or have diarrhea, OR it can KILL you. That is not a risk worth taking over $15 or $20.

BTW, my SIL leaves meat out all the time to thaw too. Her kids also seem to "catch" many more "stomach bugs" than mine do. Now, it could be a coincidence, or it could be that they are getting food poisoning from it.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

the bacteria would be in the meat no matter what thawing in the fridge or counter and if cooking doesn't kill it, then you would get sick


EDIT - I would only do this with muscle meat...never ground...ground I would trash in a minute because the bacteria gets combined all in the meat.

I have thawed beef on the counter all day for 15 years...and I eat my steaks rare...never had food poisoning (except from Sushi at Epcot)

 

[BabyTigger99]

I would still use it, but then again, I thaw on the counter all the time!