Can I eat it, Hamburger Helper edition

September 15, 2024 5:55 AM

I made this artisanal Hamburger Helper recipe (yes), ate some of it with my kids and then left it on the stove overnight. All told, out about 12 hours. Kitchen is not overly hot but not cool either (September in NYC). Recipe has ground beef, cream, and cheese. Eat or toss?
posted by Ollie to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

Best answer: Ground beef and cream? Toss!
posted by heatherlogan at 5:58 AM on September 15 [9 favorites]

Best answer: yeah, meat and dairy tends to go bad kinda fast; I'd toss.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:00 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Nope.
posted by cocoagirl at 6:02 AM on September 15 [2 favorites]

Best answer: All of that plus pasta sitting out is a big risk. Starchy carbs like pasta and rice can grow all kinds of gross bacteria and make you very sick if they're too warm for too long (rule of thumb is 2 hours at most). Toss it.
posted by fight or flight at 6:05 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Oof yeah, sorry, this isn't an ambiguous one. Ground beef sitting out overnight is an automatic no.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:21 AM on September 15 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Toss. Alternatively, if you have someone you’d like to give food poisoning to, put it in a Tupperware container and leave it on their porch.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:25 AM on September 15 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Ick. Toss. And I'm on team eat it usually.
posted by kathrynm at 6:27 AM on September 15 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Man. This was a time-consuming recipe and was going to be tonight's dinner too. [brief fit of rage] But I guess I don't want to poison anyone.
posted by Ollie at 6:31 AM on September 15

Response by poster: YOU get a best answer and YOU get a best answer just for the sheer novelty of consensus.
posted by Ollie at 6:33 AM on September 15 [6 favorites]

Best answer: It's OK, the serious eats one is better so you can make that tonight instead.
posted by capricorn at 7:50 AM on September 15 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I’ve wanted to make this and I’m angry on your behalf but you absolutely cannot eat this or even serve it to your enemies. I’m so sorry for your loss.
posted by vivzan at 8:39 AM on September 15 [7 favorites]