I purchased ground beef, sausage, and expensive deli meat. I totally forgot about them in the car and they sat there, in 90 degree shaded heat for 4 hours. I am guessing everyone will agree that I should throw the meat out...but I spent so much on it! I will have to go back and repurchase it because we are headed out on vacation tomorrow and it was for our trip. What is your opinion? It still felt semi cool to the touch- it wasn't frozen when I bought it.
This is why this website rocks! It was so convincing to see everyone tell me to throw it out. We have a really strict budget and I was so happy I still had money left over in our vacation food budget. You are all right, 50 is not worth everyone getting sick on vacation. I am headed back to the store to repurchase the meat today. Thanks ladies!!!!
In an ordinary situation I wouldn't risk it.
Going on a trip? NO WAY. I have HAD food poisoning from bad luncheon meat before (from a Subway deli sandwich!) and I was sick for days. And it was so bad I almost went to the hospital. Going through that, with everyone with it, traveling??!! NOOOOOOOOOOO. WAAAAAAAAAAAAY.
I would definitely ditch the no-longer-cold cuts and probably the rest too. I would not want to chance it on vacation. It is a pain and expensive I know (I have done the same thing on occasion though).
hmmm - $50 in meat? or spoiled vacation because everyone's in the bathroom, has nothing to eat, or has to spend more than $50 in urgent care and pharmacy fees....? Suddenly, $50 doesn't seem like too much...
your post made my stomach turn, i couldn't do it
let us know what you do
Was it 90 degrees outside? If so, it was hotter in your car, even if it was in the shade. Toss it.
I would not mess with meat. I threw out a pork loin that we did not use by the end of our trip and it was past the sell by date. Food poisoning is terrible. Especially on vacation.
Absolutely not. 90 degrees outside means well over 100 degrees in the car, and meat keft out in that kind of heat for 4 hours is spoiled. Forget the smell test. Meat can still be bad without it smelling bad. It's not worth the risk. Don't risk it.
Food poisoning is sooo awful, it would completely ruin your trip. It sucks but I would toss it.
Personally I would cook the meat as soon as possible, and cook it very thoroughly, and in broken into small pieces form. Then I would pop it in the freezer for use in casseroles after you return. Buy a new batch of meat for the trip so that you can use in the ways you intended. Of course my opinion is coming much too late.
I served cold cuts the night before I went on a trip. I took the leftovers with me and age them. I was sick for 3 days. The cold cuts were in the house but out for a couple of hours and still smelled good. Don't trust the smell.
If the meat isn't cold to the touch, don't eat it. Food poisoning is a very bad thing that could ruin your otherwise lovely vacation.
I would open the packages and smell it. If it doesn't smell bad I would use it. (I doubt it will smell bad.) Then, I would put the meat in the freezer for an hour or so until it becomes stff from the cold.
Then use it as you want.
I hope you have a nice time on your vacation. Good luck to you and yours.
If it had been sitting on a counter in an air-conditioned house for 4 hours, I'd say go with the smell test. But in 90-degree heat...no way. Toss it. The peace of mind is worth the extra cost of more meat.
throw it away. I would not eat it. Even though it was 90 degree's outside, it was a lot hotter inside. I would not risk it.
90 degree heat? I don't think so, but that's just me.
The ground beef and sausage I may give a second chance if still cool to the touch, but I'd make sure to cook them asap and not let them sit in the fridge for a while. The deli meat I wouldn't mess with. That's handled too much for me to feel safe.
I agree with the smell test. I have done this before and everything was fine..
