Expert: Carol Schlitt - 5/17/2006

Question
I went and bought some beef steak last night, and forgot to refridgerate them before I went to bed. Is there anything I can do with it, other then throw it away in your opinion?

Answer
Hi Jesse,

Unfortunately, I can only recommend throwing the steak away at this point.  Beef (and all animal products) are considered potentially hazardous food --in other words it will support the growth of harmful bacteria.  Meat is not a sterile food -- it normally contains low-level bacteria. When you give the bacteria the conditions for growth (room temperature is one of the conditions) then the bacteria will grow -- possibly to levels that could cause food borne illness.

So...while you do not know if there were harmful bacteria there to begin with you have to assume that it could be possible. Since you don't know for certain, the recommendation is to throw away food that has been in the temperature danger zone (room temperature is smack dab in the middle of this zone).

I'm sorry -- wish there were some magic thing I could tell you that would guarantee that the meat is safe.  At the present time there just isn't anything for the consumer to use that would give you the assurance of safe meat.

When in doubt...throw it out!!

Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illinois Extension