Burgers

[Craig234]

So, I ordered some frozen American Wagyu burgers. Unfortunately, I was not careful monitoring their arrival, and they sat out a day in the heat.

By the time I got them, the temperature was cooler than room temperature, totally thawed, for the beef - wet and red fluid - and the bacon, sealed in plastic (edit: both sealed). I threw the burgers in the freezer and the bacon in the fridge.

So, two things. How bad is this? Unsafe food bad, quality reduced by re-freezing bad? Or no problem?

Second, if the chefs want to suggest how to prepare these - I've only done the basic cast iron skillet grilling for a burger - feel free for meat like this. I have that skillet, or a portable BBQ I haven't yet opened.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I shan't comment on the correct storage/refrigeration policies regarding thawed foodstuffs, however...

The GF and I have discovered that our favorite burger cooking method is 'smash and scrape'. Conceptually, we prep our buns (martin's potato buns or bust) and condiments, as the actual cooking goes fast. Form 1/8th lb balls of beef (two per burger), with some salt & pepper mixed in. Get large flattop or cast iron flat grill, heat very hot, at least to the point of your oil residue smoking. Drop a ball on the pan, smash down very flat (think fast food burger) with a spatula (preferably metal, with no holes) and a wooden dowel, repeat for other patties. Drop a large dollop of mustard on one patty per burger. Scrape and flip (should only cook for ~30s), drop cheese slices on, scrape off, drop on bun, good to go.

Intensely flavorful, incredibly easy to cook.

My utensils:
https://www.target.com/p/lodge-16-75-x-9-5-cast-iron-reversible-griddle/-/A-11992196 (flat side)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ED1KQ8/
Decent sized dowel, I just used a ~2" one that I cut down to about 12"

 

[Thebobo]

I personally wouldn't want it but a simple google search:

"Only refreeze hamburger if you have thawed it in the refrigerator and kept it in the refrigerator. Don't refreezeit if you simply left it out at room temperature to thaw. Even if you used one of the other two safe thawing methods, in cold water or the microwave, it might not be wise to refreeze the thawed hamburger.?"

 

[Craig234]

I personally wouldn't want it but a simple google search:

"Only refreeze hamburger if you have thawed it in the refrigerator and kept it in the refrigerator. Don't refreezeit if you simply left it out at room temperature to thaw. Even if you used one of the other two safe thawing methods, in cold water or the microwave, it might not be wise to refreeze the thawed hamburger.?"

I wonder if it makes any difference that the burgers are in sealed plastic, not exposed to oxygen.

Hmmmmm.

 

[Captante]

I wonder if it makes any difference that the burgers are in sealed plastic, not exposed to oxygen.

Hmmmmm.

It might help in terms of any external contamination however most of the potentially harmful bacteria in ground beef is already in there.

The real issue here is the actual temp the beef reached and how long it sat AT that temp ... too long and too warm = not safe to eat.

 

[IronWing]

Oxygen would have helped. The anaerobes are the badass bacteria.

 

[kranky]

Sad to say, I would not eat those. Over 40 degrees (which it sounds like they were for quite a while) is when bad stuff grows. Even if cooked to 165 degrees internally, it may not destroy all toxins.

 

[squirrel dog]

your nose will tell you Craig . If it stinks , don't cook it . If it smells normal , cook it .

 

[sdifox]

Lol throw it out. Not worth dying.

 

[lxskllr]

I can smell bad ground beef when it's cooking. It gets a sweet smell that isn't quite right. IOW, it's not an offensive odor, but you can tell things aren't as they should be. If it was me, I'd cook up every bit of the beef. if it doesn't smell funny, have burgers, then freeze the rest. It'll be half a loss, but you can use it for stuff like tacos. The bacon should fine. It's got nitrites for preservation.

 

[Captante]

Lol throw it out. Not worth dying.

Exactly!

Considering how sick you can get from any meat that goes over the top I'd say its not even remotely worth the chance. If you do get sick its at least 12-24 hours of sheer misery and it could take weeks before you feel "right" again.

Plus you actually could die in extreme circumstances!

I can smell bad ground beef when it's cooking. It gets a sweet smell that isn't quite right. IOW, it's not an offensive odor, but you can tell things aren't as they should be. If it was me, I'd cook up every bit of the beef. if it doesn't smell funny, have burgers, then freeze the rest. It'll be half a loss, but you can use it for stuff like tacos. The bacon should fine. It's got nitrites for preservation.

I usually notice a mild vinegar-smell when things are heading south...


That just sounds wrong somehow no ?!?

 

[Craig234]

It might help in terms of any external contamination however most of the potentially harmful bacteria in ground beef is already in there.

The real issue here is the actual temp the beef reached and how long it sat AT that temp ... too long and too warm = not safe to eat.

It sat out for 30 hours with 90 degree weather. That sounds bad, but it had ice packs (melted but still cold); the food was thawed but colder than room temperature, I hate to guess but halfway between refrigerator and room temperature. The meat was in a styrofoam shipping container with about 5 of those melted but cold ice packs.

That with that fact it's in the sealed plastic. Some hours later, the former ice packs were still somewhat cold.

 

[Captante]

It sat out for 30 hours with 90 degree weather. That sounds bad, but it had ice packs (melted but still cold); the food was thawed but colder than room temperature, I hate to guess but halfway between refrigerator and room temperature. The meat was in a styrofoam shipping container with about 5 of those melted but cold ice packs.

That with that fact it's in the sealed plastic. Some hours later, the former ice packs were still somewhat cold.

Unfortunately half-way between 90f & room-temp (70f ?) is 80 degree's!

If it was that warm there's nothing to think about throw it away... at least that's what I would do.

It is of course your decision ... be sure to report back if able!

 

[kranky]

It sat out for 30 hours with 90 degree weather. That sounds bad, but it had ice packs (melted but still cold); the food was thawed but colder than room temperature, I hate to guess but halfway between refrigerator and room temperature.

It might be OK, but it's definitely not worth taking the chance. Ground beef is a leading source of E. Coli contaminations. And your beef was in the temperature danger zone for many, many hours. Remember, the safe temperature is only a few degrees above freezing. "Colder than room temperature" could mean 60 degrees. For hours.

The consequences are not worth it.

"Do you store your ground beef safely?"
"Our beef is stored in OK conditions."
"Just OK?"
"Hey, the chainsaw juggling school puts more people in the hospital than we do."

Just OK is not OK, as the commercial says.

 

[sdifox]

It sat out for 30 hours with 90 degree weather. That sounds bad, but it had ice packs (melted but still cold); the food was thawed but colder than room temperature, I hate to guess but halfway between refrigerator and room temperature. The meat was in a styrofoam shipping container with about 5 of those melted but cold ice packs.

That with that fact it's in the sealed plastic. Some hours later, the former ice packs were still somewhat cold.

Can I have your stuff. Preferably before you eat?

 

[Craig234]

Unfortunately half-way between 90f & room-temp (70f ?) is 80 degree's!

If it was that warm there's nothing to think about throw it away... at least that's what I would do.

It is of course your decision ... be sure to report back if able!

no no no, as I said, it's a guess, but halfway between REFRIGERATOR and room temp - or about 50 degrees by the time I checked, colder before that.

In other words, the ice packs were cold water, and the meat felt 'cold' - not quite refrigerator cold, but noticably cold.

 

[Craig234]

If I cook a burger, and eat one bite, and wait an hour, will that give me an idea with lower risk?

 

[Captante]

no no no, as I said, it's a guess, but halfway between REFRIGERATOR and room temp - or about 50 degrees by the time I checked, colder before that.

Misunderstood that part although 50f if accurate is still too warm for safe storage.

Given the approx-temp correction I will however increase your odds of survival slightly, especially if you avoid having your burgers rare!

If I cook a burger, and eat one bite, and wait an hour, will that give me an idea with lower risk?

I've gotten sick within an hour from tainted food a couple of times. I've also had it take 12 hours before becoming violently ill.

That's to say nothing of the critters that groove happily in your gut for a week to 10 days before they kick it in gear.

Who delivered this stuff by the way? Last time I had an issue with Omaha Steaks leaving a package out to spoil in the sun they replaced it AND gave me a gift-card for the full amount I spent.

 

[Craig234]

Who delivered this stuff by the way? Last time I had an issue with Omaha Steaks leaving a package out to spoil in the sun they replaced it AND gave me a gift-card for the full amount I spent.

Ya, I was expecting more contact given the issue of frozen food. It's from Costco delivered by UPS. They just left it. I called Costco, and it can't be replaced, they don't have any more, just returned and refunded. So I'd miss out on a one-time buy of this nice product.

 

[sdifox]

Ya, I was expecting more contact given the issue of frozen food. It's from Costco delivered by UPS. They just left it. I called Costco, and it can't be replaced, they don't have any more, just returned and refunded. So I'd miss out on a one-time buy of this nice product.

Lol waygu burger is not a good buy. Steak, sure.

 

[snoopy7548]

Just go to Five Guys...

 

[Craig234]

So, I called the company today. They said they tell people as long as it was still cool and not room temperature, it should be fine.

No cooking tips...

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm astonished that the company would take the risk of telling people that.

 

[spacejamz]

need an update of when burgers are cooked..then update 1 and 5 hours later...

 

[spacejamz]

Any updates OP?

Thought I would ask after seeing the 'eat bread with mold' thread....