so i left my fish food out again...

[Allmost]

I am really hoping s/he just mis-typed. There are numerous PDF's out there about the 4 hour time limit for the temp danger zone -- it really can't be debated.

you are just worried about the lobster you had in Oklahoma arent you ? :lol2:
[ hahah I am kidding of course lol]

yea I am sure there has to be a higher limit. perhaps, he/she meant before the 4 hours is up, you can re-heat it or re-Freeze it. but after it has gone bad ... and starts smelling ... yea, I dont think I would eat it doesnt matter how much its heated.

 

[Dr. Reef]

sorry guys i didnt read the part where OP said it was over 8 hrs.
Yes TODD you are right about hours. As a matter of fact USDA states that refreezing should be done under 2 hrs of anything left out and under 1 hour if temp reached 90+.

here is what the book states.
Refreezing
Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F.

If you purchase previously frozen meat, poultry or fish at a retail store, you can refreeze if it has been handled properly.

 

[Dr. Reef]

i still agree with other on the fact that u are losing only $30-50 food that can be purchased again rather than taking a risk and lossing ur entire livestock or even just few. and i am sure you have livestock that each one is worth more than $50 or more.

 

[Jeremy1988]

8 hours is DEFINITELY enough time for bacteria to colonize it, and if the room was hot enough it could be long enough for decay become a problem.

Yes, it's fish food and not people food. But it's also being put into an enclosed ecosystem (if it can become a waterborne bacteria) and up against a fish immune system instead of open air and a human's immune system (and medicine cabinet).

What about 2 hours of leaving food out?

 

[Jeremy1988]

TODD i beg to differ, i have completed manager certification every 3 yrs for last 18 yrs now.
danger zone is 41-135F is true to increase production in harmful bacteria. but what does health dept. tell u when ur food is in that danger zone?
they tell u to RE-HEAT it and bring it up to 135+. of when u are above 41F they tell u to use shallow pans and use ice packs and bring temp below 41 quickly.
thats done because once u reach the 135+ or 40or below level bacteria dies. otherwise they will toss the food in garbage can.

i also have left frozen fish food outside overnite and refrozen and reused with no effects,BUT for only $5 to $30 food why take a chance if u dont agree with me.

Note: its a very common practice for grandmothers to take frozen food/meat out of the freezer and leave it overnite in the sink for tomorows lunch. thus not making it safe or harmless but is done everyday in many many
households around the world.

What if you left it out for an 2 hours and not 3-4? House temp 75

 

[kmbyrnes]

What if you left it out for an 2 hours and not 3-4? House temp 75

I would refreeze it and use it. Just don't keep going through the freeze/thaw cycle.

 

[DePinchGonze]

Actually according to serv safe, the temperature danger zone is 40-140, but it's fish food, it's fine

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I too say go ahead and freeze it and use it.

 

[hotelbravo]

Time and temperature danger zone is 41°-135°F for only 2 hours for bacteria to colonize it. So if it took 4 hours to thaw it's reached the temperature danger zone and has begun to spoil. Toss it

 

[heathlindner25]

I wouldn't use it

 

[crossguard]

I would...

Heaven forbid were not in some horrible plane crash over the South Pacific. Those fish would be eating us given the chance. It's not like their ordering off a menu or anyting.

 

[heathlindner25]

I would...

Heaven forbid were not in some horrible plane crash over the South Pacific. Those fish would be eating us given the chance. It's not like their ordering off a menu or anyting.

The ocean and my closed system are two different things, and I have more delicate fish I'm not going to feed spoiled food to.

 

[crossguard]

Removed. BrianD

 

[johnike]

Hey! I missed a good bannation on an ancient dragged up thread!!!

Funny this got dragged up again, I left a nice corner chunk of a big slab of Mysis on top of the fridge the other night and found it the next morning.
Can I still use it?