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Throwing things out after power loss
https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=87693		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  newper [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Throwing things out after power loss
So I had about 22 hours of downtime with the power... when the power came back on, I tested the beef roast that I had in the crisper/semi-freezer section of the refrigerator. It came out at 47 degrees. Now the FDA says I should throw it out because it is over the 40 degree mark for more than 2 hours, but I'm willing to bet that most meat displayed in a refrigerated section of a grocery store is over 40 degrees. Mrs. Newper has a differing opinion and wants to throw everything away. I'm in agreement that we can throw away some coldcuts, but anything that we are heating up, I think should be OK... I think it is a bunch of nervous nellys at the FDA about throwing this crap away, but if I throw a beef roast that got up to 47 degrees into a crock pot and pull it out at 180 or whatever temp it ends up at, I can't believe serious illness is an issue. Quite frankly, I personally would take a chance on the cold cuts getting up to 50 degrees. Of course, if something smelled funky or felt funky, I would throw it out, but I think people are way over-cautious about this crap, and I would further venture that many of these foods hit the 45-50 degree range at some point on the way to the grocer in the first place. Please tell me I am wrong.
Author:  Scorehead [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
You are correct.
Author:  spanky [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Honestly, I would have cooked the meat ASAP (even right now, maybe?). Then eat it as "leftovers" if nothing else.
I realize with the power being out you had better things to do, but that's kinda what I always thought I would do. Hell, cook that thing to medium-well/well, you'll be fine. IMO.
Author:  Nas [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
I agree with spanky unless you are a baller.
Author:  newper [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
spanky wrote:
I realize with the power being out you had better things to do, but that's kinda what I always thought I would do. Hell, cook that thing to medium-well/well, you'll be fine. IMO.

Yeah, this is a Korean BBQ thing where it is supposed to be cooked to well and you shred it and put it in a flour tortilla with some sour cream/Sriracha mix and a slaw type topping.
Author:  spanky [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
newper wrote:
spanky wrote:
I realize with the power being out you had better things to do, but that's kinda what I always thought I would do. Hell, cook that thing to medium-well/well, you'll be fine. IMO.

Yeah, this is a Korean BBQ thing where it is supposed to be cooked to well and you shred it and put it in a flour tortilla with some sour cream/Sriracha mix and a slaw type topping.

This is like a different language to me. :lol:
I thought you had a couple of ribeyes that looked about 90%.

Eat it.
Hell, I'll be right over. Get it ready.
Author:  Telegram Sam [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
If memory serves, you've got about 4 hours in the danger zone (above 40/below 140) before there is enough harmful pathogen growth to warrant not eating something high risk for fear of illness. your beef was 47 degrees after 22 hours, so the likelihood are it was above 40 for less than 4 hour is high. Smell it, then eat it.
Author:  spanky [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Telegram Sam wrote:
Smell it, then eat it.

Drinking game we played in college
Author:  Spaulding [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
I'd throw it out. I've had food related illness at least 2x. Not a good feeling.
Author:  spanky [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Cook it well done, then try a little bite yourself.
If no side effects - then the family can eat it.

If only minor side effects, then make the wife a delicious roast beef sandwich for not supporting you on this topic in the first place.
Author:  newper [ Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Spaulding wrote:
I'd throw it out. I've had food related illness at least 2x. Not a good feeling.

I've had it as well from the stupid taco place on Rte 59 just south of 88 -- next to Ernesto's dance fiesta or whatever it is. But for all I know they were storing the pork at 55 degrees for three weeks before they gave it to me.
Author:  Don Tiny [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Unless you're flat broke I guess I don't get why there's even a discussion about it. I mean, if you can't pay the light bill if you buy new meat, then I suppose there's at least some small level of logic to risking having you and your family in enough pain to reconsider why humans exist in the first place.

But if you can spare the money by any reasonable means then, ye gods man, thank whatever deity or comic book character you nominate that the house is still standing, the roof's on it, discard the <clap, clap> ♫ tainted meat ♫, and get your ass to the damned meat counter already.
Author:  newper [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
My wife wouldn't let my kid have a fudgesickle because it had partially melted in the freezer.
Author:  spanky [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
newper wrote:
My wife wouldn't let my kid have a fudgesickle because it had partially melted in the freezer.

That's gotta be 99% chemicals anyway.
I actually prefer my chocolate-flavored, preservative-based desserts at room temp

I wish I had melted fudgesickles right now :(
Author:  Don Tiny [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
spanky wrote:
I wish I had melted fudgesickles right now :(


Wait, I thought you didn't like OKC ...
Author:  Scorehead [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
spanky wrote:
Cook it well done, then try a little bite yourself.
If no side effects - then the family can eat it.

If only minor side effects, then make the wife a delicious roast beef sandwich for not supporting you on this topic in the first place.


:lol:
Author:  Hussra [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Sell it to Dan Bernstein at 10% off what you paid for it.
Author:  Bagels [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
give it to the dog
Author:  Seacrest [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
I'm waiting to hear what Goggles says.
Author:  leashyourkids [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
It may not be worth it, but just as an FYI - most homeowners insurance policies cover spoiled food/refrigerated products as a result of a power outage. They typically cover up to $500, but in some circumstances it can be much more.
Author:  FavreFan [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Package it with the ginseng and sell it.
Author:  Spaulding [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
leashyourkids wrote:
It may not be worth it, but just as an FYI - most homeowners insurance policies cover spoiled food/refrigerated products as a result of a power outage. They typically cover up to $500, but in some circumstances it can be much more.


I think that only applies if they were responsible for the outage. They don't reimburse you for storm damage.
Author:  Bagels [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Spaulding wrote:
leashyourkids wrote:
It may not be worth it, but just as an FYI - most homeowners insurance policies cover spoiled food/refrigerated products as a result of a power outage. They typically cover up to $500, but in some circumstances it can be much more.


I think that only applies if they were responsible for the outage. They don't reimburse you for storm damage.


if who was responsible ? the insurance company ?
Author:  pittmike [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Hussra wrote:
Sell it to Dan Bernstein at 10% off what you paid for it.


This was going to be my exact reply until I read yours. :lol:
Author:  Spaulding [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Bagels wrote:

if who was responsible ? the insurance company ?


Whoops I read it as power co, not ins co.
Author:  Brick [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
How often were you opening the refrigerator? If you were opening and closing it a lot in the first 12 hours I'd pass on any raw meat. It likely got into the "danger zone" quite quickly. When we had our power outages, I was eating hot dogs 36-48 hours later before I dropped what I could in ice and I'm still alive. We still ended up throwing away a lot of stuff though as the whole thing lasted 4 days.
Author:  Bagels [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
I was eating hot dogs 36-48 hours later before I dropped what I could in ice and I'm still alive.


i think ground up lips & snouts will stay good for a little while longer than other meats
Author:  Brick [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Bagels wrote:
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
I was eating hot dogs 36-48 hours later before I dropped what I could in ice and I'm still alive.


i think ground up lips & snouts will stay good for a little while longer than other meats
I only eat Kosher dogs.

Don't really know what Kosher actually is but anything blessed by a religious figure must be good.
Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Its ground up lips and tails of cows is all.

We didn't end up throwing away anything. Power out at 10pm Monday, got the generator up and running about 2pm yesterday. Didn't open the freezer at all and only opened the fridge once Tues AM to grab our lunches out of there. Things were still cold and fully frozen when I opened it up again once the generator was going.

This morning, 32+ hours with no power, my beer fridge outside (which was not hooked up to generator at all) still had ice cubes in it.
Author:  badrogue17 [ Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Throwing things out after power loss
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
Bagels wrote:
Boilermaker Rick wrote:
I was eating hot dogs 36-48 hours later before I dropped what I could in ice and I'm still alive.


i think ground up lips & snouts will stay good for a little while longer than other meats
I only eat Kosher dogs.

Don't really know what Kosher actually is but anything blessed by a religious figure must be good.

My brother was a production manager at a food ingredient facility and his stories of Rabbis coming in and looking for a payoff to sign off on the Kosherocity of the food are legendary .
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