can i still cook this?

ecangel24

Morning everyone!

I got some mince out to defrost, unfortunately its now been left out too long, and its just above room temp (i stuck my finger in it !) will this be ok if i cook it now!? thank you

mluton

I'd eat it, But thats me.

Penelope_Penguin

ecangel24 wrote: »

Morning everyone!

I got some mince out to defrost, unfortunately its now been left out too long, and its just above room temp (i stuck my finger in it !) will this be ok if i cook it now!? thank you

Surely it'll get even warmer when you cook it As long as it's not been at room temp for a couple of days, or smells funny, it'll be fine

I'll add this to the Food Safety thread later.

Penny. x

ecangel24

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Surely it'll get even warmer when you cook it As long as it's not been at room temp for a couple of days, or smells funny, it'll be fine

I'll add this to the Food Safety thread later.

Penny. x

Haha I guess it will, off to fry it off and bung it in the slow cooker!
Thanks for the advice, I can always count on you lot.

Bronnie

Minced meat is actually the one you have to be most careful with.

Bacteria grows on the cut surface of the meat, which is why it's ok to eat a steak that is well cooked on the outside, but still bloody in the middle. Minced meat obviously exposes many 'cut surfaces' , then mixes them all in together, which is why minced meat and any products made from it such as burgers, meatballs etc must always be thoroughly cooked.
In addition a small amount of heat is generated by friction through the mincing process which can further accelerate the growth of bacteria and is why mince goes off more quickly than other cuts of meat.

However follow the advice sensibly given on here and you'll be fine. Smell it, check the colour and if it seems ok, cook it thoroughly. With mince I was a little unsure of , I'd be inclined to boil it up in a little water/stock for a couple of minutes first.

Bitsy_Beans

I regularly leave mince in my kitchen to defrost - if I put it in my fridge it would take days as it's so cold in there (but at the right temp according to my thermometer). I've not poisoned anyone yet doing it this way (although day's not over yet )
As long as it's thoroughly cooked you should be fine.

patchwork_cat

How long has it been out?

Butterfly_Brain

I have never had a problem with leaving any meat out to defrost and as for warm mince being a harbourer of bacteria how do butchers get away with leaving mince in the windows of their shops on warm days???????

Patchwork_Quilt

That's why I never have anything from the windows, bakers or butchers

jollyme

Clean finger?!?!?!

Barneysmom

1. As long as it's only been out overnight to defrost.
2. You subject it to intense heat to kill off any nasties.
3. You wash that finger straight away. Ecoli can live on raw mince quite happily - it has to be there in the first place but you never know.