I left steak, still in its package, out for about 4 hours on my kitchen counter. Is it safe to eat ?!
Answers:
That's a tough one. I am usually inclined to side with the USDA on matters of refrigeration and food safety, but it would be a shame to waste a beautiful steak like that. For one thing, meat wrapped in a Styrene tray and wrapped with plastic is usually packaged with some sort of inert non-oxygen gas to keep it fresh looking. That gas would not be friendly to bacterial growth. For another thing, beef is often dry-aged for several weeks or even months, unwrapped, although it IS hanging in a cooler when that is done.
Thirdly, four hours on the counter is really barely on the outside limit of the approved time for leaving food un-refrigerated. If there is any bacterial growth, it is probably confined to the exposed outer surface area, which will be cooked thoroughly before the inside is cooked.
If it were ground beef, I would say don't eat it. Because it is a steak, I would say cook it to 165-degrees F., then enjoy it. Don' t try cooking that steak to rare or medium rare.
I don't think it's safe. Four hours is a long time at room temp. Two hours is about the limit for leaving any perishable food out before it starts growing bacteria. Here is what the USDA says:
Refrigerate perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if the temperature is above 90 °F.) At room temperature, bacteria that may be present in raw meat and poultry multiply very rapidly and some types of bacteria will produce toxins which are not destroyed by cooking and can possibly cause illness. Never thaw frozen meat or poultry on the kitchen counter. Refrigerator thawing is much safer. You may also thaw foods in cold water or in the microwave. These foods must be cooked immediately to a safe minimum internal temperature before refrigerating. .
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Hot…
In my opinion it is. I leave meat out to get to room temperature before cooking intentionally.
Hey.
Its safe to eat. its already raw and it takes a while for it to actually go bad.
Hope i helpedd (;
I agree. It should be OK. If it has an off smell then you may want to pitch it.
It should be ok.
if you are sure it hasn't moved, I think it's dead....so it's safe yes.
Yes.....it is safe to eat....