Expert: Carol Schlitt - 12/25/2006

Question
We purchased a three pound fully pre-cooked organic prime rib and placed it in a refrigerator.  11 hours later we learned that the referigerator was not operating!  The meat is vacuum sealed in a plastic wrap and we still haven't opened it.  we immediately put it in an operational referigerator but now question the safety of eating it.  is it safe?  should we re-cook it for a short while to ensure it's safety?

Answer
Hi Tom,

It all depends on what the internal temperature of the meat was when you discovered that the refrigerator was not working.

When a refrigerator stops working it takes a while for the internal temperature to raise to level that would encourage the growth of bacteria.  We tell people when there is a power outage that a fully-stocked refrigerator will hold temperature for 24 hours if you don't open the door.

So it all comes down to what was the temperature of the meat when you discovered that the refrigerator was not operating.  If, the meat was in the danger zone (40 to 140 degrees) for over 2 hours then I'd recommend not eating the prime rib.  If you think the meat was not in the danger zone that long then it should be safe.  Just because it was fully cooked and vacuum sealed does not guarantee safety -- it must be handled properly too to ensure safety.

I hope this answers your question. If you have additional questions, please let me know.

Merry Christmas!

Carol