I am such an idiot. I got a $50 beautiful 1st cut brisket and left it in the fridge a few days. Specifically, it came frozen (I can only get frozen kosher meat where I live) and I placed it into the "meat" drawer in my fridge. (This drawer is specifically made to keep meat fresh and I think it works well.) Anyhow, it sat from last Monday night until now. Can I cook it now? My guess is that it took two days to defrost (ie: tues, wed) and then it sat another 6 days. Is it still safe to use. It looks fine and smells ok too.
think this is still good?
- Thread starter Pinny
- Start date
Jerry N.
TVWBB Emerald Member
I'm guessing that if it smells good, it was not in cryo. If it does look and smell good, I think you should go for it. You're definitely on the edge but look and smell are about the only test I know of and it passed both of those. Also, it probably did not thaw in two days. A big piece of meat like that can take a long time to thaw - maybe 3 or 4 days.
Stop goofing around on TVWBB and get your smoker lit. It's certainly not going to get any fresher.
Stop goofing around on TVWBB and get your smoker lit. It's certainly not going to get any fresher.
Kevin is one of the experts on this kind of stuff. I think I remember him pointing out before that pathogenic organisms in meat have no detectable odor, neither do the toxins some can produce.
If the meat is rotten, (which it very likely isn't) then thats one thing. But if it were to have a large amount of the nasties that can get you sick, you wouldn't know by smelling it.
Either way, if the meat looks good, and was in a closed package, I'd cook it. There is more to worry about in proper storing and cooling the meat afterwards that can get someone sick.
If the meat is rotten, (which it very likely isn't) then thats one thing. But if it were to have a large amount of the nasties that can get you sick, you wouldn't know by smelling it.
Either way, if the meat looks good, and was in a closed package, I'd cook it. There is more to worry about in proper storing and cooling the meat afterwards that can get someone sick.
Shawn W
TVWBB Emerald Member
I'd think it took longer than 2 days to defrost. If your fridge is 40ºF or less I don't think you have a thing to worry about. I'd cook it.
Don't tell anyone this but I forgot a cryo sirloin tip roast (~10 lbs) for nearly a month in my fridge. It wasn't frozen to start with. I cooked it and we all lived. Actually, it was really tender and tasted ok. It didn't smell or look bad either. Since then I've bought them a week or so in advance and let them wet age in cryo in my fridge.
Don't tell anyone this but I forgot a cryo sirloin tip roast (~10 lbs) for nearly a month in my fridge. It wasn't frozen to start with. I cooked it and we all lived. Actually, it was really tender and tasted ok. It didn't smell or look bad either. Since then I've bought them a week or so in advance and let them wet age in cryo in my fridge.
Bill Gillespie
TVWBB Fan
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pinny B.:
I am such an idiot. I got a $50 beautiful 1st cut brisket and left it in the fridge a few days. Specifically, it came frozen (I can only get frozen kosher meat where I live) and I placed it into the "meat" drawer in my fridge. (This drawer is specifically made to keep meat fresh and I think it works well.) Anyhow, it sat from last Monday night until now. Can I cook it now? My guess is that it took two days to defrost (ie: tues, wed) and then it sat another 6 days. Is it still safe to use. It looks fine and smells ok too. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
You should be fine, as long as the meat was wrapped in a cryo-vac. I buy briskets and let them sit in my fridge for 3 weeks to wet age, they are fine, by the way where do you get your meat from. I live about 45 min from Providence. I usually buy my briskets from Oakdale packing in Bridgewater, Ma. They are never frozen, and for half the money, about $2/lb.
I am such an idiot. I got a $50 beautiful 1st cut brisket and left it in the fridge a few days. Specifically, it came frozen (I can only get frozen kosher meat where I live) and I placed it into the "meat" drawer in my fridge. (This drawer is specifically made to keep meat fresh and I think it works well.) Anyhow, it sat from last Monday night until now. Can I cook it now? My guess is that it took two days to defrost (ie: tues, wed) and then it sat another 6 days. Is it still safe to use. It looks fine and smells ok too. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
You should be fine, as long as the meat was wrapped in a cryo-vac. I buy briskets and let them sit in my fridge for 3 weeks to wet age, they are fine, by the way where do you get your meat from. I live about 45 min from Providence. I usually buy my briskets from Oakdale packing in Bridgewater, Ma. They are never frozen, and for half the money, about $2/lb.
K Kruger
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
It is true that pathogens have no odor nor do they create odors. Spoilage organisms create odors as the meat spoils. If the meat is oderiferous 20 minutes after removing it from its packaging the odors and off-flavors are unlikely to be removed during cooking.
Any outgrowth of typical pathogens that occurred during refrigeration will be handled during cooking as the meat will be thoroughly cooked, thus pasteurized.
Any outgrowth of typical pathogens that occurred during refrigeration will be handled during cooking as the meat will be thoroughly cooked, thus pasteurized.