My roommate and I left a turkey out to thaw and ended up leaving it out overnight (for about 9 hours). Surprisingly it was still very cold this morning. I unwrapped it and it still smells ok. There was even a little bit of ice on part of it. Is it ok to use? we have to cook it tomorrow, so if it's not ok, i don't know what else to do.
2006-12-01 03:28:35 · 10 answers · asked by Kyle N 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
It is just fine. Nowadays there's so much paranoia going on about food safety, so that sometimes it is way too excesive.
My mom always used to defrost meat overnight on a counter, and nobody in our family ever had food poisoning. After starting cooking myself, I gave up to the mass hysteria and started defrosting my meat in the fridge. However, I always make exceptions for turkeys - leaving them overnight at room temperature is the only way to go. If you stashed it in the fridge, you would have to wait for maybe a week until it completely thaws, and I feel it is even less safe.
Your turkey was cold and still with ice chunks. I would even leave it out for longer - it is annoying to start baking it and finding out that the middle is still frozen as a rock.
Don't worry and have a nice dinner!
2006-12-01 03:45:58 · answer #1 · answered by Kaytee 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's fine. That's how I thaw my turkey when I get it the day before I'm cooking it. As long as it's still cold and there's a little ice, it's ok. Put it in the fridge now or else all bets are off.
2006-12-01 03:32:50 · answer #2 · answered by eehco 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as you say it still had ice well cold food should be maintained at 45 or lower and ice sures fits that...it is fine ...i do it all the time....when i forget to thaw things out...just make sure it doesnt get above 45 for bacteria to grow...
2006-12-01 04:05:09 · answer #3 · answered by d957jazz retired chef 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be Ok, but in the future - be a little more cautious about leaving frozen food out overnight.
2006-12-01 03:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by dddanse 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That happens all the time, if it's still good you'll findout soon enough, if I have to smell something to see if it's good, personally it's in the trash, a risk I don't need to take to save a couple bucks. Good Luck
2006-12-01 03:34:14 · answer #5 · answered by Steve G 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its fine... throw it in the fridge until it's ready to cook, make sure its cooked thoroughly... voila
2006-12-01 03:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by ice_princess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will be just fine but put it in the fridge and not the freezer.
2006-12-01 05:52:14 · answer #7 · answered by COACH 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'll be just fine!
2006-12-01 03:36:15 · answer #8 · answered by luckistrike 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i think its still good.since it still has ice on it is should be okay.
2006-12-01 03:43:00 · answer #9 · answered by modee m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it should be just fine
2006-12-01 03:37:20 · answer #10 · answered by barbie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋