Thawed black caviar at room temperature. Is it safe to consume?

December 31, 2014 6:02 PM

I bought 8.8 oz of black caviar earlier today with the intention of eating it tonight for new year's. I was told by the store owner to let it "sit on a table" for 3-4 hours to thaw it. Perhaps stupidly, I did not question his instructions; I went home and did as I was told. Roughly three and a half hours later, I checked the caviar container and found that it was cool to the touch. I promptly surrounded it with crushed ice and put it into the back of a refrigerator. I am not sure how long it had been that cool. I read on all other sites that caviar should be thawed in the refrigerator over an entire day, not at room temperature (in my case, 74 F). Did I ruin the caviar? If so, is what I ruined just the taste, or is it unsafe to eat now?
posted by shadowy_world to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

I would still eat it. Caviar is really salty, and if it was still cool, I wouldn't worry about it being unsafe.
posted by PlasticSupernova at 6:04 PM on December 31, 2014 [5 favorites]

I would eat the hell out of it.
posted by ottereroticist at 6:08 PM on December 31, 2014 [5 favorites]

your caviar as fine I say this as someone who owns a dedicated caviar spoon.
posted by The Whelk at 6:17 PM on December 31, 2014 [8 favorites]

Never seen anyone taken out by caviar at room temperature. Not sure if it's the right way to do it but everytime I've seen it served / eaten, it winds up sitting out for a good few hours while everyone drinks, chats and eats. This, plus the post-party cleanup a handful of hours after that where someone usually knocks off the leftovers.
posted by zedgoat at 6:56 PM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

I am super cautious about food and I would happily eat this.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:13 PM on December 31, 2014

Yum!
posted by jbenben at 7:41 PM on December 31, 2014

EAT IT.
posted by joan_holloway at 7:45 PM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Oh, yes, please eat!
posted by quince at 8:18 PM on December 31, 2014

If you don't want to eat it, give it to me.
posted by bedhead at 8:22 PM on December 31, 2014 [6 favorites]

My grocery store has caviar (of admittedly perhaps not the finest quality) on the shelf next to the anchovies and clams and such, not even refrigerated, so that may be a benchmark, of a kind.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:27 PM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Next to the canned anchovies, clams, etc, in case that wasn't clear.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:29 PM on December 31, 2014

I too will eat if you don't. No worries and very happy New Year wishes.
posted by bearwife at 12:49 AM on January 1, 2015