My very first "Can we eat this?"

December 20, 2021 12:05 PM

CanIEatItFilter: We left some cod out of the fridge for a few hours. We had planned on salt-curing it. Will we die a horrible death?

We bought a cod filet in order to make this recipe: Baccala alla napoletana. Unfortunately, after coming home we left it out for about four hours instead of refrigerating it. Upon realising this, we immediately started the salt cure process as described in the recipe.

Will this be likely fine, or should we concede defeat, toss it out, and start afresh?

posted by vernondalhart to Food & Drink (6 answers total)

That's how I thaw my frozen cod. Sometimes I leave it out overnight. I do the same with chicken, pork, and other meats. I haven't died or gotten sick.
posted by msbrauer at 12:28 PM on December 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

for me this would depend on if it was quite cold (like, on ice) when you got it, and what the kitchen temp was.

if it was cold and your room was in the 60s I'd probably eat it. If not... I'd be leery. Spoiled fish won't kill you but in the middle of the experience you'll wish it had.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:47 PM on December 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Agreed, hard to answer without knowing how cold it was to start (like, if a fish monger put some ice in the bag for you) and whether you leave in say, Maine and keep a cool house, or if you're in Miami.

If on ice, keep in mind the fish markets will keep raw fish out for sale for several hours, so then I wouldn't worry.
posted by coffeecat at 1:17 PM on December 20, 2021

The guidance I received when I worked in restaurant was that highly perishable foods, and fish is definitely one of those, could remain in the "danger zone" of between 40 and 140 degrees f for up to four hours.

If the cod was at fridge temperature immediately before you set it out, how long would it take to warm up to 40? How long were you out?
posted by gauche at 1:38 PM on December 20, 2021

Response by poster: It was direct from a fishmonger, so it would have been on ice beforehand, but not when it was brought to our apartment. Our apartment is not overly hot; certainly not like outdoor Miami.
posted by vernondalhart at 1:41 PM on December 20, 2021

We do this semi-regularly with all sorts of frozen meat, including fish, to thaw it out. You almost certainly won't die.
posted by dg at 5:47 PM on December 20, 2021