What to do- left chicken in the car overnight!

poppycracker

Absolutely Murtle. If it smells of chicken its orf! And also, be very careful with it if you are feeding young kids. Otherwise, it should be fine if well cooked

This is only my opinion btw

molesworth

Chicken left overnight in an unheated car in winter should be fine. We usually leave our Christmas turkey in the boot of the car overnight on Christmas Eve to free up space in the fridge.
From Delia, no less (Delia Smith's Christmas) on storing a fresh turkey: "... if space is a desperate problem, don't worry: you can use an unheated bedroom. or the garage (with suitable covering) - even, in an emergency, the locked boot of the car which can be pretty cold on a winter's night"

summerday

Thanks for your replies, I've only just got back from a meeting. I must admit that I was a (excuse the pun!) chicken and threw them away. I hear so many horror stories of food poisoning from chicken, and if it had been another type of meat I would have chanced it. That will teach me to be forgetful and leave food in the car overnight!

Sarahx

TOBRUK

saraht,
You said 'threw them away', sounds like chicken portions. Anyway, I am with you if you feel any better - I think I would have thrown them - I would not have enjoyed the meal anyway, better safe. It has not been cold here past few days.

Also, these days the way they store chicken in supermarkets is a little suspect anyway. Even the veg are stored extremely cold - when you see carrots, a lot of the time they are freezing and very wet! Once you get them home, unless you keep them in the fridge they have gone in a couple of days!

aj9648

Sorry to reignite an old thread - just done the same thing. Have chicken legs in the boot for about 12 hours overnight I want to freeze them - thoughts? Or chuck them?

Livelongandprosper

aj9648 wrote: »

Sorry to reignite an old thread - just done the same thing. Have chicken legs in the boot for about 12 hours overnight I want to freeze them - thoughts? Or chuck them?

Remove from package and wash under a cold running tap. This goes against the latest rules but it will be the blood that will taint the chicken long before is becomes inedible

Such small portions being left out this long I would advise roasting before freezing. The high heat will kill most bugs. Once roasted and chilled as fast as possible, freeze then

Reheating previously cooked chicken is fine as long as you do it once and you reheat thoroughly ( look how many chicken pies or curries are sold )

katkin

aj9648 wrote: »

Sorry to reignite an old thread - just done the same thing. Have chicken legs in the boot for about 12 hours overnight I want to freeze them - thoughts? Or chuck them?

I couldn't stomach it. It's too long and I wouldn't know the car boot temperature. It's too risky. Bin.

Witless

What to do?

Book an opticians appointment ASAP methinks!

At first glance I read the title as 'I left the CHILDREN in the car overnight'!

JIL

I keep a tray of cans of cola in the boot of my car, they are always very cold at this time of year. So I feel if they stay cold then the chicken must also stay cold.

Lorian

where I am it was between 6.2c and 8c overnight, outside.