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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 to thaw a 18 pound turkey in refrigerator?
Figure one day of thawing in the fridge for each 4-5 pounds of turkey. So it should take a 18lb bird about 4 days to thaw.
How long does salami last in the firdge?
It depends entirely on the Salami in question, and the method used to make the salami in question.
Salami were originally developed as a method to preserve meat for extended periods of storage.
It has been knows for unopened salami to remain safe for consumption without refrigeration for periods in excess of 10 years, if properly prepared in advance.
The "Idea" behind a salami is to "preserve" the meat in the same way that making wine preserves grape juice- By fermentation within a sealed container.
Many Salami have historically had wine as an ingredient, for precisely the reason given above: it was a known method of "preservation.
I (the person writing this) have personally had salami of good quality in my fridge (sliced or not) for periods in excess of 6 months, and in cases far more, without problem.
Generally speaking a Salami that will survive such extended storage will show signs of mould on the outer skin, such mould being http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penicillin an antibacterial mould that is safe to eat, and also will contribute to the flavour, while also adding to the preservation of the Salami.
A more direct reply:
If it starts to smell, chuck it, if is looks funny, chuck it. If it looks OK, and smells OK, eat it.
How do you cook fresh chicken that has been in refrigerator 6 days?
You can reheat it in a microwave oven, in a toaster oven, or in a regular oven. Cooking time will vary, depending on the weight and thickness of pieces, and whether the chicken is frozen or just chilled in the refrigerator. A single leg or thigh might take one or two minutes to reheat in a microwave oven, depending on how powerful the oven is. One piece or many pieces can be reheated in 15 to 20 minutes on a cookie sheet or in a pan in a regular oven at 325°F.
How long can uncooked chicken sit in the refrigerator?
Cooked chicken should be refrigerated immediately after it is eaten. It should not be left in warm temperatures for more than 1-2 hours.
How many days do you have to thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator?
According to the Iowa State University Extension:
"Defrost the turkey in its original wrapper on a tray in the refrigerator 24 hours for each five pounds. Never thaw a turkey at room temperature. You may also place the wrapped turkey in the sink and cover it completely with cold water. This method requires about 30 minutes per pound. If the wrapping is torn, place the turkey in another plastic bag, close securely, and then place in water. The National Turkey Federation recommends every 30 minutes as a rule of thumb."
It is very true that you can not count on a turkey to be defrosted on time. It is, however, safe to have a thawed bird in the refrigerator a day or two before cooking, so plan accordingly.
But You Don't Have the Time Or Space? Here's Another Choice: Brining
Defrosting a turkey not only takes up a lot of room in your refrigerator, but can take up to 2 days or even longer. I get a large clean tub and put cold water and salt in it. I keep changing the water approximately every 4 hours and putting a little more salt in it (not too much.) If you put it in the water with salt in the morning it should be thawed by the next morning. Take the turkey out and put it into a clean kitchen sink and run cold water over it and be sure you rinse it VERY well. Then take paper toweling and pat dry INSIDE AND OUT!
WikiAnswers contributors share their turkey tips:
- Basting is a big no-no. It does nothing for the flavor or juiciness of the turkey, and it adds hours on to cooking.
- You can tell if the turkey is done checking your leave-in meat thermometer (which you can get at most grocery stores for a few bucks), which is stuck into the thickest part of the thigh or breast (without touching the bone). It's done when it's at 165 degrees F.
- Take the turkey and put it on a warm platter and cover with foil and let sit 20 minutes to 1/2 hour before carving.
- DON'T put your turkey into the refrigerator while it is warm. Wait until it cools (approximately 40 - 45 minutes) and then cover it and put it into the fridge. NEVER leave turkey out for hours.
- Many people will not stuff their turkey (and shouldn't since it's a breeding ground for bacteria in the cavity and the stuffing needs to be cooked longer than the turkey, resulting in over-cooked, dry meat), but make it separately and put it in a sack (you can buy them in a grocery store) or cheese cloth and tie off the top of the sack. Some people use Uncle Ben's Turkey stuffing which is delicious and I always add dried cranberries to the stuffing and wow! It's delicious and gives the stuffing a nice taste.
- For a great, quick (yes, quick) recipe look for Alton Brown's Brined Turkey recipe from his show "Good Eats." You'll never make turkey the same again.
What happens if you eat salmon that has been in the fridge for 1 week?
In most cases 2 to 3 days of refrigeration is the maximum recommended time after dethawing or purchased already thawed. Anything beyond this and you seriously risk sickness.
Fish is not something you take chances on.
If turkey cold cut lunch meat is eaten after use by date is it dangerous?
That's going to depend on how it has been handled, the type of packaging, the storage temperature and how far it is past the use-by. No one here can guarantee the safety of the meat. You'll have to make that decision.
How long does cocaine last in the freezer?
It takes a little under 30 minutes for a single soda can to freeze in a standard freezer. It would go much faster, however, put in a bucket of ice-water, especially if the water has salt in it. If in the freezer for too long, the can will explode. Likewise, this will happen even faster in the ice-water.
Can you bake a ham and then freeze it?
According to this page at Cook's Ham, if you're not going to eat it within 7-10 days, freeze it, then thaw in fridge...it's all at this link. I was wondering the same thing, this year, when I get the free ham from the supermarket promotion that I usually donate to a food bank, I'm going to have to cut it in pieces and freeze it for several meals for me. Times such as these...happy holidays! http://www.cooksham.com/hamTV/#handling_thawing
How long can cooked macaroni last without a fridge?
Due to the addition of moisture, cooked macaroni should be considered potentially hazardous. Potentially hazardous foods should not be left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours. Less time is better.
How long do cooked chicken and noodles last in the refrigerator?
They will last until you think they are too crunchy. They won't go bad for a couple of weeks.
How long can you leave thawed turkey out?
NO! Do not do that. Never refreeze any poultry. Once it thaws, it will pick up bacteria. I know there will be some that disagree with this, and say you can do it if handled properly, but personally I would never do it. If incorrect, I would rather err on the side of caution.
How soon should a fresh turkey be cooked?
Taylor thinks she is all that but she really isn't. Get off your pedestal!
How long can chicken be left unthawed in the fridge?
If you are thawing chicken you need to do one of the following:
A) Thaw in the bottom of the refrigerator in a bowl to collect the juices that run off
B) Thaw in the microwave( last resort and depending on size)
C) Thaw in the sink in a container under cold running water (not hot). Hot water will cause the chicken to start to cook or bacteria to grow. While thawing you should discard the water about every 45 minutes to an hour.
D) in an ice bath discard ( water every 45 minutes to an hour)
Do not just leave the chicken on the counter to thaw because bacteria doubles every 20 minutes when it reaches ideal conditions. However, if it reaches the temperature danger zone of 4-60 degrees Celsius then bacteria grows even faster than that.
This could potentially, cause food borne illness.
How long will refrigerated uncooked pork chops keep?
If they are still in packaging, you can keep an uncooked pork chop in the refrigerator for a maximum of 4 days before they start to go bad. Keep them frozen until you are ready to cook them.
What is a none safe way to thaw frozen food?
Prepare a bucket of water.
Pour gasoline on the frozen food.
Light a match.
Throw lit match onto the frozen food.
Let the food 'thaw' until you think the gasoline is burnt off.
Dump your bucket of water onto the frozen food.
AND it should be now thawed.
How long do sloppy joe's keep?
Well, you don't need to refrigerate sloppy joe mix unless the can is opened. If opened, it would last for about a week.
How long does it take to thaw out a 4 pound turkey?
A turkey requires at least 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of weight to thaw in a refrigerator set at 40 degrees F.
In cold water it will take about 30 minutes per pound.
How long can you keep raw pork in the refridegerator?
* NEVER leave raw meat out on the counter even if there is a cover over it. Always keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. * Any left over COOKED MEAT can be frozen again. * ALWAYS SMELL YOUR MEAT! Sound crazy? I do it all the time and so far have had to take two steaks, 3 pork roasts and one beef roast back to the store because it had a sour (rancid) smell to it. When in doubt throw it out or take it back to the store you bought it from. They have to give you your money back.
Should raw turkey have any odor?
While this does not necessarily mean it is spoiled, it could indicate that your turkey lived in bad conditions where it has acidically burned itself from sitting in its own excrement for long periods of time. If this is the case, it is still edible.
You should not trust either color or smell of any meat when deciding whether it is safe. Raw meats can be contaminated with bacterial toxins and not manifest either discoloration or unusual smell. Conversely, meats can be discolored (such as with freezer burn) and not be dangerously contaminated.
Raw poultry can be safely kept frozen for up to 9 months. It can be safely kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days - maybe a little longer if it's frozen when it goes in the fridge to thaw.
If your meat is older than that, you should discard it.
Whether cooked or raw, potentially hazardous foods should be kept either below 41 degrees or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit as long as possible. They should spend no more than four hours between 41 degrees and 135 degrees - accumulated total including thawing time and serving time.
When food has accumulated four hours in the food danger zone temperature (41-135 degrees), you should discard it. Re-heating or re-freezing will kill or inhibit the growth of dangerous bacteria, but will NOT remove the toxic chemicals those bacteria produce while growing on food in the food danger temperature zone.
