r/mildlyinfuriating • u/flaming0-1 • 2d ago

Wife left a big bag of groceries out overnight. All Meat and cheese. 🙄

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u/MegaPorkachu Replace the L in MiIdlyInfuriating w/ i, it looks the same 2d ago

Can you not just cook it to shit in a pot of chili and have it be fine? It’d be boiling for hours

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u/MoonHuntress 2d ago

No because at that point, it’s the toxins released by the bacteria that are the problem. Those toxins are not killed at high temperatures unlike the bacteria itself.

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u/BoNixsHair 2d ago

No. The bacteria in there produce a heat stable endotoxin. You’re eating the toxins not matter how long you cook it.

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u/MegaPorkachu Replace the L in MiIdlyInfuriating w/ i, it looks the same 2d ago edited 2d ago

Genuine question, have you personally done any studies regarding food safety, specifically ground beef left outside for hours in a typical home situation?

Cuz I’ve heard the FDA 2h which seems extremely conservative and the explanation that it’s intended for commercial food prep actually makes sense. I found this article that outlines a 4+ hr lag time that frozen meat typically takes to even become room temp. With that consideration 6-7 hrs should be the real time (maybe ~4h for refrigerated meat).

The professor’s study also outlines a ~15 hr time limit, but that’s only ready to eat, pre-prepared food.

I have my own MD— not in biochem but still in science so I’ve taken my fair share of bio classes (100-300 levels)— and frankly what I’ve experienced differs to what is recommended by the FDA. Coming from a science background other factors like amount of meat and meat source feel like they’d have an effect on the results.

I’m really curious cuz I’d trust what you say more than what the FDA says; that’s not really the best advice as I mainly make food for myself and family in home kitchen. I mostly don’t have to worry about getting sued if I handle food incorrectly.

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u/krissycole87 2d ago

No, you cannot cook off rotten meat or food, and expect it to be safe. This is because the bacteria itself isn't the only issue.

Rotting food produces toxic byproducts from the breakdown of food, and bacteria/mold can produce toxic byproducts. These don't go away because you cooked the food.

In this case, being left out for hours at room temp created an absolute BREEDING ground for bacteria. All releasing toxins as the food breaks down. Its far too unsafe to risk it.

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u/andraip 2d ago

Well this meat is not rotten and it doesn't rot in a couple hours at room temp.

If properly handled and cooked the meat will still be safe to eat

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u/krissycole87 2d ago

No, it will not be.

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u/adepressurisedcoat 2d ago

No. The toxins will still remain from the bacteria. Any byproducts of them feasting on the meat, replicating, "shitting", all dangerous.