Important question:

[Erin]

So my boyfriend put 2 chicken breasts in the counter this morning before we left for work at about 7:15 they were frozen and are boneless, skinless chicken breasts. We came home at 4pm and that's when I realized what he did - I quickly put them in the fridge... can I cook these and eat them? Or will we die? They were out for over 8 hours. They were still cool to the touch when I got home. Please respond asap as I would like to make dinner soon. :) Thanks.

[NinjaBoy]

They should be fine. This is how I defrost my chicken, and I still live.

Albeit, a terrible and lonely life which you might not even call living where the only joy I can have is the brief seconds that the first drink of booze in the morning gives me.

[Erin]

I'm using them. I'm sure I'll live. It's not very hot in our place. Thanks for the response. If I die, I expect you to speak at my wake. :)

[Phrenetic]

ill perform the sending

[rawb]

you are making a decision that is bad and you should probably feel horrible about it.

[crackdragon]

I do this all the time.. have yet to die... not even once

[rawb]

in all seriousness though, once one small part of the chicken reaches ~4 celcius then salmonella can start multiplying, on a counter this would happen in about 2 hours. you are taking a pretty big risk.

i mean unless this is some new weight loss thing you're trying.

[tiedye]

FoodSafe-wise... don't do it. As a former kitchen manager, I don't recommend it.

But if you cook this shit out if it then the chances are minimal that you will get sick.

[Erin]

Too late. They were delicious!! Aside from the way-to-full feeling, I feel fine.

[Willis]

ERIN the RISK TAKER

[Erin]

I just talked to my Grandma, she's been cooking longer then any of us have been alive. She does it, I'm sure I'll live. :) Thanks for the support guys.

[stephen_c]

next time, age it for 28 days. ain't nothin like zombie chicken.

[Erin]

ewww... now you're just being silly.

[Chewy]

if it stinks, dont eat it.

[mojo]

chicken necks?

[rawb]

don't worry! you wont feel it for 12 - 72 hours if you got it : D

[Erin]

I'm pretty sure I'll be ok. :) My mom did it on the counter for about 8 hours the whole time I was growing up.

[NinjaBoy]

My parents did the same thing, as well as my Grandmother who was a cook in for most of her life.

[ebbomega]

8 hours is long. Foodsafe says 2-3 hours tops, I say about 5-6. Even if the core temp is cool the surface temperature will be pretty warm.

[Revolver]

you will be fine.

the act of cooking anything basically burns off any bacteria that has accumulated.

the foodsafe protocols are pretty strict cause you are serving food to the public.

like chris said, my parents and grandparents left chicken out all day to defrost.

cooking kills basically almost everything.

[Erin]

Thanks for the continued imput guys! :) Again, I'm sure I'll be ok, it's been several hours and I'm at work feeling super!

[Global]

Originally Posted by Erin

:) My mom did it on the counter for about 8 hours

OMG!!! Erin you poor thing.

In front of you??

If you ever need someone to talk to...

[Erin]

Don't worry, I was usually at school.

[Global]

Originally Posted by NinjaBoy

My parents did the same thing.

Did I miss something here?

[Erin]

Wasn't that normal? :(