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Storage of Meats Poultry and Seafood
Questions about food storage, specifically proteins such as meats, poultry, and seafood.
2,359 Questions
How long does it take unrefrigerated cheese to spoil?
It will grow mold before it spoils. You can cut off the mold and still use the cheese. Keeping it cold impedes the growth of the mold. Cheese will keep unrefrigerated for weeks. However, it will dry out and become very bad tasting.
How do you tell if sausage has gone bad?
You can cut into it to be sure it is brown. With a meat thermometer, you can measure the proper temperature for its being done (180?). Finally, an experienced cook will note by the feel of the sausage that it is done.
How long can raw chicken sit out without being refrigerated?
I would not leave out very long at all, I personally wouldn't for longer than an hour. if it was very chilled to begin with maybe 2 hours, but that's the upper limit. if your house's temperature is in the 60's then 2 or three hours might be ok. but the problem with that is your stove will create a localized temp increase so you may not consider that and inadvertently be outside the temp you think your room is at, especially if your prep area is with in a few feet of your oven or stove.
So to be safe less than two hours, but preferably 1 hour.
remember life begins at 40. 40 degrees that is. that's when bacterial growth will begin growing much more rapidly. chicken has a high salmonella rate. contamination of surfaces and other objects that come into contact with the chicken will be a issue to consider also. After you cut or chop to size or even marinading while doing other things, there is no harm slipping it back into the refrigerator as long as you wash your hands before touching the outside of the container.
When cooking make sure most meats internal temperature gets to 165 degrees. I believe only exception is steaks if you don't like well done. I recommend no pink but still juicy though for the most health conscience
If your Thawing:
Best:
Refrigerator If defrosting do that in the refrigerator for two days (saves on power too!) and can be refrozen if necessary. refrigerator temp should be under 40, 38 is probably better to try to maintain 40 when the door is opened and closed.
Better:
Microwave: can be used, might cook some edges, so you may have a loss in meat quality use a lower power setting to reduce this issue. defrosts fast so you don't have to wait if you need the meat quick. just watch it and it should be fine.
Good:
Water: you can thaw in water but need to cook immediately don't refreeze. Change water a lot about every 30 min, to keep it cool, don't ever use warm or hot. This may provide better meat quality than a microwave thaw, however most people will not pay enough attention to the food and changing the water so the meat could easily spoil. it will have a higher than
Worst:
Room temperature / Counter: not recommended at all. Exterior will defrost quicker you will have a much higher rate of food spoilage, with increased bacteria, will also even further increase bacterial cross contamination. people who get sick easy or have medical conditions, should absolutely never thaw this way. Not recommend for anyone else either.
think ahead thaw in therefrigerator, saves on a little power also.
How long can you keep turkey refrigerated?
I bought butterball turkey today Nov 19th and it was completely thawed. Can I refreeze it? Or can I keep it in the refrigerator until Thursday, which is 5 days from now. I don`t know how long it was thawed before I bought it.
Can you freeze browned meat and sauce?
To unfreeze it: a hot plate and a bit of olive oil is much better than a microwave oven.
Answer:The best way to freeze pasta is cooking it less, then freeze the pasta and sauce seperately.How long will a fully cooked ham last?
Meats are kept better in the freezer. Meats can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days if raw and 1 to 2 days longer if cooked. Always place cooked meats in an airtight container.
How long to thaw a 8lb turkey breast?
It is probably best to throw it out. The fridge only slows down the growth of bacteria, after that length of time it has most likely begun to spoil. The best rule for a situation like that is when in doubt, throw it out.
Is it bad to cook frozen meat Like cooking ground hamburger before thawing it the whole ways out?
No there is nothing wrong with this it just takes a little longer to cook it all the way through.
How long can i keep thawed steak in refrigerator?
Meats either raw or cooked do not stay long in the refrigerator. 5 days is the longest for cooked or raw meats.
Can a fully cooked ham be safely refrozen?
Yes, ham that is fully cooked can be safely refrozen. Once thawed again, it will have the same number of days left to be eaten as when it went into the freezer; for example if you cook ham on January 1, it could be safely refrigerated until January 7. If you refreeze on January 3; once thawed it will be safe to eat for 4 days.
Be sure to wrap it properly to prevent freezer burn, loss of taste and texture.
Can you freeze roast after you cook it?
Uh, No It Will Probably Just Melt The Ice In The Freezer But It Will Eventually Freeze Over Time And If Your Thinking Of Eating It After, It's Not Such A Good Idea. It Could Cause Food Poisoning.
How long will uncooked fish last after thawing in the refrigerator?
Fish does not last long in the refrigerator. Depending upon the type of fish and assuming it was fresh when frozen, thawed fish could keep up to 5 days refrigerated. But it would be best to use the fish as soon as it is thawed. See Related Links. You can also cook fish from frozen.
How long can you leave baked ziti uncooked in the refrigerator?
Either it is baked or uncooked, it can't be both.
How long can you leave cooked lamb in the refrigerator before it goes bad?
Depending on the temperature the meat was cooked to, up to 3 days. Any longer than that and you are asking for trouble.
How long can cooked hamburger meat stay fresh at room temperature?
The answer to this question is completely subjective. In my opinion, if the meat looks slimy and smells bad, throw it out. However, if it's only a bit rancid, you could cook it thoroughly on a really high heat and then hide the flavor with curry or chili. This will kill off most of the bacteria and your stomach acid will do the rest. This is how they prepare meat in the tropics. You should take into consideration that the meat you buy in supermarkets is at least several weeks old. It will have been hung after slaughter (a bit of decomposition enhances the flavor), probably frozen and then defrosted before sold as fresh. Refrigeration slows down the decomposition so depending on how old the meat was when you bought it you could be looking at anything from 3 to 30 days. Use your nose. If it smells rotten, it is. Remember you can safely ignore the sell-by date as supermarkets can take the meat off the shelf and repackage it up to 3 times before you buy it. My advice is to buy from a local butcher. Avoid supermarkets. Ask the butcher where they get their meat. If they buy from a wholesaler, go to a decent local butcher.
Can you freeze raw shishkabobs?
The meat would probably be OK, but any fresh veggies - onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms - would turn mushy.
How long can a standing rib roast stay in refrigator?
This food will keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator. Place the food in an air tight container for the best results. This food can easily be transferred to the freezer for longer storage time.
Can I still use my pinapple if I left it out overnight?
Yes, pineapple, like most fruits, does not have to be refrigerated, although it keeps longer if it is refigerated. Just make sure to not let it sit for to long then you run into the risk of it growing mold or turning.
How long can you keep uncooked beef in refridgerator?
Plan on holding raw beef in the fridge for only 3-5 days for steaks and roasts, but only 1 or 2 days for ground beef. If you are not going to use it in that time frame, you should probably freeze it.
Generally, fresh cuts of pork, like roasts, chops and tenderloin can be kept well-wrapped in the freezer up to 6 months. Well-wrapped ground pork can be kept for about 3 months in the freezer.
Follow these steps to help keep your pork fresh in the freezer
- Use one of these freezer wrap materials: specially-coated freezer paper (place the waxed side against the meat); heavy-duty aluminum foil; heavy-duty polyethylene film; heavy-duty plastic bags.
- Re-wrap pork in convenient portions: leave roasts whole, place chops in meal-size packages, shape ground pork into patties. Put a double layer of waxed paper between chops and patties.
- Cover sharp bones with extra paper so the bones do not pierce the wrapping.
- Wrap the meat tightly, pressing as much air out of the package as possible.
- Label with the name of the pork cut and date.
- Freeze at 0 degrees F or lower.
Does a cured ham need to be refrigerated?
Cooked ham can be kept in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days and should be eaten within that time frame or it should be frozen. If it hasn't been eaten or frozen with in the time frame, then it should be discarded.
Can you thaw turkey and put back in freezer?
The meat should have been thawed in the fridge. You can put it back in the cooler, but it is possible it will not keep as long as if it had thawed under refrigeration. It might not even keep a week before it will go bad and it will not last as long as frozen meat does. Quick thaws - like microwave and water baths - should be used only if the meat is going to be cooked promptly upon thawing.
How long can you keep a cooked ham on the bone in the refrigerator?
It depends on numerous things. The most important part is how was it handled? All refrigerated processed meats should be kept refrigerated between 32°F and 39°F. If your ham was handled in an ideal/perfect conditions and is in code date, it should be consumed with in seven days, five is better.
