Does cooking raw meat that has been left out too long kill the germs?

Question

If raw meat (specifically ground chicken or ground turkey) is left out of the fridge too long, but the appearance is fine; if you then cook the meat until it is hot and well done, does that kill all the bacteria on it and make it safe to eat? Or should it just be discarded?

Thank you Jayrusalem1 that's the kind of answer I was looking for...

I know raw meat has bacteria & could be dangerous even when its fresh, and needs to be cooked to kill that anyway...

I'm not talking about anything that looks or smells spoiled, it was just out of the fridge a few hours & I know that's longer than what you're supposed to have it out... Since coooking makes fresh ground meat safe, would the heat kill the germs in this too?

Wow, Bottes, that's crazy I did not know that! How long do you leave it out for, and how long before it's not safe anymore? and IF IT ISNT SPOILED DOES COOKING KILL ALL THE GERMS??? thanks!

Answer 1

Actually it's a pretty scary fact, but cooking meat to a temperature of 160 F (not less, which is the mistake most people make) will, according to the USDA, kill the major bacteria like Salmonella and Escherichia coli.

There's a good chance that the flavor will not improve, though, and usually flavor/consistency goes does with bacterial growth. But for marginal cases, yet, it works.

Also, keep in mind that a microwave will do the trick, but it has to cooked thoroughly -- which microwaves don't usually do. Without a thermometer, it's virtually impossible to know.

This is all information I researched, but I can also add anecdotally, that my wife is a lot more "liberal" than me on this and she's almost always right -- we've never had negative effects when using this approach.

Add'l note: This case is one where it's borderline -- smell is an excellent indicator (the USDA and most doctors will tell you that) and if it doesn't smell, you're fine cooking it thoroughly.

Answer 2

Wow I read the answers and nobody got it right.

We all know spoiled meat is no good.

But leaving meat on the counter for a while before cooking is ACTUALLY a good thing.
Cooking meat that has been allowed to reach near room temperature is the BEST method.
26 years chef
over 30 years in restaurant business
Restaurant Consultant for many years
Been to dozens and dozens of seminars on food prep and safety
Toured dozens of meat packing plants.

However, I will note: I do not know how long you left it out. And ground turkey is very cheap/ maybe not worth keeping. Just depends.

EDIT* As a general rule, leave the meat out until it reaches near room temp for steaks and roasts. Ground meat shouldn't be left out as long. Also, determine the level at which you intend to cook the meat to...example.. rare or med-rare hamburgers, don't leave the meat out as long. but steaks are ok to leave out till room temp even if you're only cooking them to rare or med-rare.

Answer 3

Well if you cook raw meat, you shouldn't keep it in the pan for too long because you'll end up with a burnt one and no it doesn't clean it .The best way is but it from a good quality shop and wash it before to cook it. That's what my mom does.

Answer 4

To kill germs in water, it is recommended that the water be boiled for at least five minutes. If you boiled your hands, you would probably die from the pain in four minutes. How do you know there are germs on the raw meat? If there are germs on the meat, why would you want to eat it?

Answer 5

I would not risk it the meat should be kept in the fridge until its cooking time as it will go off and not matter how you cook it it wont kill of the fact its gone off iv bought frozen chicken a while ago and defrosted it and it was of so i threw it out it smelt awful thats another sign the smell

Answer 6

Never heard of such a thing. Throw it out. You may kill bacteria but I believe there is residual poisoning from bad meat that the body can't deal with.

Answer 7

That's a good question. If it doesn't smell, you will be fine cooking it throughly. Cook until it is at least 160 degrees. If you want to waste the money, then throw it out.

Answer 8

When in doubt throw it out! It's not worth the risk and you can never be too sure that everything was killed. Also, the taste will be horrible. Don't take the chance.

Answer 9

I would not risk it. Throw it out. Don't get sick just cause u r hungry. Eat the bag of chips in Ur pantry OR go buy some fresh meat. Good Luck

Answer 10

NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER EAT SPOILT MEAT ONCE IT HAS BEEN OUT A LONG TIME. BATRERIEA WILL GROW AND NO TELLING WHAT YOU MAY CATCH? IT WAY SMELL FINE BUT THE GREMS IN IT MAY BE VRY WRONG. ITS A WASTFUL THING TO DO BUT THAT CHUNK THAT SUCKER OUT AND GO GET FREASH GROUND ROUND. !

STAY WELL.

JAN