how can i get other half to understand...

Lynton

Lynton

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Lynton (yes really!)
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No
that thawing meat at room temperature is a really bad idea.

1 piece of steak and 1 chicken breast ruined by being left to defrost for 6 hours at room temp then bunged in the fridge still in their original bags...

I have tried to explain that extra liquid upon thawing due to cells bursting when freezing - liquids expand! - and sitting in a pile of its own blood at room temp is inviting lots of bacteria to breed like anything.... the steak even smells off - not brave enough to smell the chicken!

Apparantly I am a f***ing know it all, and "you know best" etc etc... why don't you do it?"...

The answer of "you're 39 you should know this by now, oh and I was at work all day" didn't sit well either...

Really really annoyed.
 
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Let her eat the dodgy chicken. Good heaving bout of salmonella will do wonders for her knowledge! Some people are stubborn and need to learn lessons the hard way.
 
Never had a problem defrosting meat at room temperature - though some of the temperatures of last week could easily have caused a problem - but agree after defrosting it should not go back in the fridge.

Its got to be defrost, cook and eat.

Dave
 
Lynton, Lynton, Lynton.................
Welcome to family life dear fellow ;)

(the answer to the questioned posed in the title is,
You don't have a cat in hells chance, the sooner you learn that the better off
you will be :thumbs:)
 
Must have asbestos lined guts in this house then, never had a problem doing it in 20 years... or I am just good at cooking things properly. Mind you, no, wouldn't have defrosted out of the fridge last week or 3, been just a bit too warm.
 
Lynton said:
that thawing meat at room temperature is a really bad idea.

1 piece of steak and 1 chicken breast ruined by being left to defrost for 6 hours at room temp then bunged in the fridge still in their original bags...

I have tried to explain that extra liquid upon thawing due to cells bursting when freezing - liquids expand! - and sitting in a pile of its own blood at room temp is inviting lots of bacteria to breed like anything.... the steak even smells off - not brave enough to smell the chicken!

Apparantly I am a f***ing know it all, and "you know best" etc etc... why don't you do it?"...

The answer of "you're 39 you should know this by now, oh and I was at work all day" didn't sit well either...

Really really annoyed.
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Get your whiney arse down to KFC :lol:
 
Eating a few bacteria is good for you, keeps your immune system in tune.
 
Steep said:
Eating a few bacteria is good for you, keeps your immune system in tune.
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There is some truth in that I think, plenty of scientific bods think one of the reasons we have so many kids/young adults with allergies, asthema, excema, etc these days is the lack of exposure to some bacteria while we are young. All the modern antiseptics, cleaners etc are just a bit too good, as it were. Now ok, eating seriously off meat is not good for anyone, but neither me, nor my kids have ever been prone to stomach bugs, allergies or anything else from daring to defrost meat at room temperature. Nor Mr Yv either for that matter, and he likes his steak pretty much as it came off the cow :naughty:
 
Yv said:
There is some truth in that I think, plenty of scientific bods think one of the reasons we have so many kids/young adults with allergies, asthema, excema, etc these days is the lack of exposure to some bacteria while we are young. All the modern antiseptics, cleaners etc are just a bit too good, as it were. Now ok, eating seriously off meat is not good for anyone, but neither me, nor my kids have ever been prone to stomach bugs, allergies or anything else from daring to defrost meat at room temperature. Nor Mr Yv either for that matter, and he likes his steak pretty much as it came off the cow :naughty:
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I thought that hygiene theory had recently been proved to be unfounded? Think it was on a horizon.
 
srichards said:
I thought that hygiene theory had recently been proved to be unfounded? Think it was on a horizon.
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I think the problem is that all research has a reason...if you get my drift? For every bit of research there is an equal and opposite bit of research kind of thing ;)

What is so far agreed on is that the immune system works and develops from a young age by being subject to bacteria [or viruses, etc] - so I shall just look at it that I must have a well developed strong immune system :D
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
Ditto!
Got to admit I'm slightly curious as to whether the answer is slower or faster.
I really don't fancy chicken lollipops!
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in the fridge.... you just have to plan your cooking more than 12 hours ahead :p Which btw, I am incapable of.....
 
Yv said:
Must have asbestos lined guts in this house then, never had a problem doing it in 20 years... or I am just good at cooking things properly. Mind you, no, wouldn't have defrosted out of the fridge last week or 3, been just a bit too warm.
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Same here (although not for 20 years :p ).

Putting it in the fridge often leaves it crunchy in the middle. Bit like a meat Popsicle.
 
Yv said:
in the fridge.... you just have to plan your cooking more than 12 hours ahead :p Which btw, I am incapable of.....
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+1

Matt - the theory is in warm temps if you defrost at RT - the outside thaws quite quickly and all those little bacteria multiply whilst waiting for the middle to defrost... potentially dangerous...

and... it was also still in the same bag bagged in in the butchers so in a pool of luke warm blood etc....

Now I have no probs in defrosting at RT in winter when it is cold, but when 25 deg C in the house.... no no no....


Usually I go by the smell, if I don't like the smell, I won't eat it!
 
Some recommend defrosting on a special metal plate - the heat transfer speeds the process at room temperature.
 
srichards said:
I thought that hygiene theory had recently been proved to be unfounded? Think it was on a horizon.
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Not unfounded just revised.

Steve
 
Just checked with my wife of 35 years (never been poisoned by her -bless). Room temp is fine so long as the room temps arent what they were recently, generally she defrosts the food in the fridge (as do I when working away and cooking for myself) and if there are any still "firm" bits she just ensures its cooked through gently and completely (least that's what she tells me to do when I'm doing a BBQ :) )
Man up and eat it! There will be less hospitilisation than you'll get if you keep arguing with the Mrs anyway.
 
Yv said:
now I DO use one of those.... not because of any h&s worries, just because as previous, I am useless at planning ahead... :lol:
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ARE we eating tonight? :shrug:
 
Yv said:
in the fridge.... you just have to plan your cooking more than 12 hours ahead :p Which btw, I am incapable of.....
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Lynton said:
+1

Matt - the theory is in warm temps if you defrost at RT - the outside thaws quite quickly and all those little bacteria multiply whilst waiting for the middle to defrost... potentially dangerous...

and... it was also still in the same bag bagged in in the butchers so in a pool of luke warm blood etc....

Now I have no probs in defrosting at RT in winter when it is cold, but when 25 deg C in the house.... no no no....

Usually I go by the smell, if I don't like the smell, I won't eat it!
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Thanks both, glad I've not been doing it all wrong then :)
 
There is room temp and there is room temp. Defrosting at room temp should pose no threat, how the hell did people manage before microwaves. Once it has defrosted it will still stay cold for a while, putting it back in the fridge is a bad idea. Planning in advance is a good option and leaving it to defrost in the fridge is another method. Meat should always be at room temp before being placed in a pre heated oven anyhow. But to answer your question Lynton, my guess is not only is your wife running around sorting your dinner out she is more as like looking after your new addition, as well as doing a host of other chores whilst you sit on your arse talking dribble on TP 24/7. I think she was being polite :D
 
We're too fussy about food in general in the UK. As long as the meat isn't actually rotting you're likely to be fine.
You could eat a chicken breast raw (if you really wanted to) and chances are you'd be A-OK.
The perceived problem with undercooked chicken is infections like salmonella, but that affects vanishingly rare samples.
Don't worry about it. If you find yourself unable to stop worrying about it then just make sure the chicken is cooked right through and the internal temperature is above 70-80C for at least five minutes.

Seriously, the number of people in the UK who ruin good steak by asking for it well done due to irrational fears about undercooked meat blows my mind. Steak is meant to be melt-in-the-mouth tender. There's no point in a well done steak! Especially fillet. Slap its backside and serve it up, in my opinion.
 
u8myufo said:
There is room temp and there is room temp. Defrosting at room temp should pose no threat, how the hell did people manage before microwaves. Once it has defrosted it will still stay cold for a while, putting it back in the fridge is a bad idea. Planning in advance is a good option and leaving it to defrost in the fridge is another method. Meat should always be at room temp before being placed in a pre heated oven anyhow. But to answer your question Lynton, my guess is not only is your wife running around sorting your dinner out she is more as like looking after your new addition, as well as doing a host of other chores whilst you sit on your arse talking dribble on TP 24/7. I think she was being polite :D
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Thanks Rich... if only....

I was in work for 7.30 am today through to 5.30pm with a 15 min lunch break..... (yes I aware of minimum breaks etc)
I asked her to get something out of the freezer for me to cook us on the BBQ when I got home and the twins in bed.
She did, but just left in the bag on the side in sunlight through the window for a good part of the afternono before returning to the fridge...
I'm not having a go at her - yes she is busy and does a lot in the day, but just sometimes... common sense... :shrug:

I am sitting here talking out of my arse on TP as she has gone to bed in a huff because I offered to cook hers, but I was not eating the steak... feels a bit slimy and smells a bit whiffy...
 
Lynton said:
Thanks Rich... if only....

I was in work for 7.30 am today through to 5.30pm with a 15 min lunch break..... (yes I aware of minimum breaks etc)
I asked her to get something out of the freezer for me to cook us on the BBQ when I got home and the twins in bed.
She did, but just left in the bag on the side in sunlight through the window for a good part of the afternono before returning to the fridge...
I'm not having a go at her - yes she is busy and does a lot in the day, but just sometimes... common sense... :shrug:

I am sitting here talking out of my arse on TP as she has gone to bed in a huff because I offered to cook hers, but I was not eating the steak... feels a bit slimy and smells a bit whiffy...
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None of us are perfect and all F..k up from time to time ;)
 
u8myufo said:
None of us are perfect and all F..k up from time to time ;)
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Speak for yourself. I am awesome (until it comes to large inflatables!)
 
Good Morning Lynton, I hope you have reminded her not to leave the Bacon defrosting for too long this morning :lol:



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I've defrosted stuff in the fridge before, where do i stand there?

If i get moaned at i make her do the hoovering or something
 
Have to admit I'm with Mrs Lynton....Not happy? Do it yourself.
How many times has she poisoned you?
 
We spent most of our lives in hot climates (Hong Kong and South Africa) and just thawed meat on a worktop in the kitchen. Never had any problems. Only exception was big roasts, they got a day or two in the fridge because this seemed to give more tender/juicy results when they were cooked.
 
won't do any harm if it is still cold - the problem would be if you leave it out and it warms up and even then its not going bad unless it is left for a while. Bacterial cell walls crack when freeze thawed anyway so you'll kill a few.

only reason I defrost in the fridge is due to the cat :D and then take stuff out the night before

Lynton said:
that thawing meat at room temperature is a really bad idea.

1 piece of steak and 1 chicken breast ruined by being left to defrost for 6 hours at room temp then bunged in the fridge still in their original bags...

I have tried to explain that extra liquid upon thawing due to cells bursting when freezing - liquids expand! - and sitting in a pile of its own blood at room temp is inviting lots of bacteria to breed like anything.... the steak even smells off - not brave enough to smell the chicken!

Apparantly I am a f***ing know it all, and "you know best" etc etc... why don't you do it?"...

The answer of "you're 39 you should know this by now, oh and I was at work all day" didn't sit well either...

Really really annoyed.
Click to expand...
 
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Isn't the rule for defrosting either very quick or very slow? Personally when it comes to mince I just chuck it in the pan frozen and bash it about a bit till it's defrosted. For anything else it goes in a bag in a bowl of water. I'm still not dead.
 
I just stick anything frozen I want thawed in the fridge over night. Sorted.
 
You never get this problem with a good nut roast.
 
I can't say i'm worried either. I'd be more worried about contaminating the uncooked food such as salads you're going to eat with the meat. I'm astonished how many people do not wash there hands before and during the preparation of food.
 
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