Can I eat this? Room temperature pork edition

January 3, 2021 2:49 PM

I took a boneless pork roast out of the refrigerator to rest an hour before cooking, then got busy and forgot about it. It sat for about three hours. Can I eat this?

I would roast it in the oven in chicken stock and spices for 3+ hours.

Google says 1 hour for pork and two hours for meat, generally. My husband has a strong stomach, me not so much. But, he loves pork and so do I. What do you think?

posted by marguerite to Food & Drink (15 answers total)

Best answer: I mean, I wouldn't. How much do you want to risk food poisoning in the middle of a pandemic? Feels like a nice evening for delivery.
posted by General Malaise at 2:51 PM on January 3, 2021

Best answer: I’d cook and eat it without thinking twice about it.
posted by SLC Mom at 2:54 PM on January 3, 2021 [30 favorites]

Best answer: Rule of thumb is 2 hours, but how warm was your kitchen? Room temp of 65-68 might be safer than 72. Personally, I’d roast it and eat it, but I’m cheap.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:57 PM on January 3, 2021

Best answer: Personally, no... especially since we keep our house on the warmer side. I'm certain my husband (who has the stronger stomach) would eat it but I wouldn't be able to really enjoy eating it, even if I didn't ultimately become sick.
posted by sm1tten at 3:04 PM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I would definitely go ahead and cook it. Minced/ground meats are a big no no but a with a whole cut, bacteria are only growing on the surface, and it's pork, so you're going to take it to well-done anyway.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 3:06 PM on January 3, 2021 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Unless you're located somewhere that is currently hot and humid, I would eat this without a thought. Honestly, I'd even eat it if you did live somewhere hot and humid right now, but I'm pretty unfazed by this sorta thing. I'd make sure to cook it well-done though.
posted by coffeecat at 3:09 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I would.
posted by kevinbelt at 3:23 PM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Meat like that is much better if rested at room temp for a few hours or so before cooking. you did the best preparation imo.
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:29 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'm surprised at the "no" answers (and I'm extremely conservative on food safety.)

An entire roast, cold from the fridge, would take at least that long to even come to room temperature. Would probably still be cold in the middle and cool at the surface. It's fine.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:31 PM on January 3, 2021 [13 favorites]

Best answer: I would (but if it had been ground pork, I definitely would not).
posted by andrewesque at 3:35 PM on January 3, 2021 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Eat it
posted by mumimor at 3:50 PM on January 3, 2021

Best answer: I would make and eat that.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 4:25 PM on January 3, 2021

Best answer: i would trust my nose on this one. i would cook and eat so long as it didn't smell off.
posted by askmehow at 4:26 PM on January 3, 2021

Best answer: If you want to be cautious, eat a small amount, and save the rest. If you have no adverse effects, have full portions tomorrow. I like roast pork and would likely not be cautious.
posted by theora55 at 4:54 PM on January 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I made it but we are going to wait until tomorrow to eat it. I will report back if there are ill effects.
posted by marguerite at 7:20 PM on January 3, 2021 [1 favorite]