How long can food be left safely out of the F/Freezer for?

gabyjane

Things like fish, chicken in the freezer etc..and cream etc in the fridge. If it was left on the side how long would you leave it safely?
Thanks

TomsMom

Anything from the freezer, if it has defrosted do not re-freeze. Make it up into something (casserole, curry, soup, etc.) and then freeze the made up dish.

Anything from the fridge like cream would depend on how warm the room is where it's been left. If a cold kitchen like mine, where block butter doesn't quite reach spreading consistency, then you could probably use it within a day or two. You should be able to tell, if the container still feels quite cold I'd put it back in the fridge, if it is anything like normal room temperature then use up that day.

If in doubt don't use it, not worth risking food poisoning.

ormus

in a warm kitchen? no more than an hour.
in the winter you can leave it outside all night. (protect it).

we use freezer blocks inside cool bags, to store the food.

gabyjane

TomsMom wrote: »

Anything from the freezer, if it has defrosted do not re-freeze. Make it up into something (casserole, curry, soup, etc.) and then freeze the made up dish.

Anything from the fridge like cream would depend on how warm the room is where it's been left. If a cold kitchen like mine, where block butter doesn't quite reach spreading consistency, then you could probably use it within a day or two. You should be able to tell, if the container still feels quite cold I'd put it back in the fridge, if it is anything like normal room temperature then use up that day.

If in doubt don't use it, not worth risking food poisoning.

Hi thanks..this still stems from my bleeding fridge ( i know the posts will stop soon i promise!) as have had a call from head office saying they will re imburse any loss of food along the way.. there was the delivery that they showed up unannounced and i had to empty it and turn it off etc then they went again without taking it meant the food had been left out. the freezer stuff some of it went in the sink and the fridge stuff on the dining table but was left for some time..
The frozen food some kind of felt soft but im unsure how it should feel! we bagged it all up and took to dh's work as were supposed to get another one the following day so it was out for longer than an hour but can't think how long..the fridge stuff was out longer as nothing to put it in and i threw things like cream, mayo, yogs etc..
Dh is a chef and had food poisoning twice so is unprepared to take a risk..although we are not trying to take the pee i am trying to decide what we should keep/risk out of the fridge/freezer section and what to claim for?
Thanks

TomsMom

If it felt soft then you shouldn't really refreeze it. I'd claim for the lot.

gabyjane

ormus wrote: »

in a warm kitchen? no more than an hour.
in the winter you can leave it outside all night. (protect it).

we use freezer blocks inside cool bags, to store the food.

Hi thanks..our kitchen gets pretty warm tbh..heating was on too!..i had no time to do the bag option unfortunatly!

gabyjane

TomsMom wrote: »

If it felt soft then you shouldn't really refreeze it. I'd claim for the lot.

Its still in situ at dh's work and i rung him earlier to say they had rung and to check through what is there and we will sit and compile a list..we havent toched any of it as not got any food here really so other than dd's packed lunch bits i cant remember what was there!.things i am unsure on are things like pickle (branstons type)..that stayed out all night and until about 3pm the next day..are things like that ok to go back in?

• Other things include..sauces/jams..
• cheese
• spread will be ok wont it..hope so!

Thanks

freakyogre

I'm not stalking you, honest.

Sauces and stuff will be fine, there was a post on the OS board a few weeks ago and a lot of people keep them in cupboards rather than the fridge anyway.

I reckon cheese would be ok too to be honest and spread. Where I used to live I didn't have a fridge for a while so had to leave spread on the side.


Now to the most important question...did my chicken breasts survive the traumatic move?

gabyjane

Hi sis!! see sauces i figured would be ok..the mayo not though? i still dont like the thought of warm pickle in my cheese bap but there you go!!

Your breasts are up to you!! we have said no to the chicken and fish stuff as a risk i think..we had to lose the ice cream too as it melted a bit but has since crystalized so not risking that either..let me know they are still at work as far as i know! the rest was veg which will be ok and the odd bits of rubbish .. Ill be getting it back via Currys anyway so not too fussed!