I just stocked up on food for the holidays last night, but unfortunately it seems I over-did it, because when I got up this morning, I noticed the fridge has been open, just slightly ajar, since 2am last night, so that's about 6-7 hours. With quite a bit of fresh meat in there, as well as milk and lots of deli stuff with a best-before-date of Jan 4th, I wonder how long it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and chicken I have in there, but not sure what to do now. Any advice/thoughts?
I just stocked up on food for the holidays last night, but unfortunately it seems I over-did it, because when I got up this morning, I noticed the fridge has been open, just slightly ajar, since 2am last night, so that's about 6-7 hours. With quite a bit of fresh meat in there, as well as milk and lots of deli stuff with a best-before-date of Jan 4th, I wonder how long it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and chicken I have in there, but not sure what to do now. Any advice/thoughts?
Thanks.
That's about 65 degrees. Recommended fridge temp is below 40 deg. F. If things are still cold to the touch, though, I wouldn't worry about it. -- http://www.jamlady.eboard.com, updated 12-18-05 - Church review (I think I'll become a critic - Rob's been calling me one for years!) and a toffee recipe.
On Wed 21 Dec 2005 04:41:55a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Allan?
Quoted message said:
I just stocked up on food for the holidays last night, but unfortunately it seems I over-did it, because when I got up this morning, I noticed the fridge has been open, just slightly ajar, since 2am last night, so that's about 6-7 hours. With quite a bit of fresh meat in there, as well as milk and lots of deli stuff with a best-before-date of Jan 4th, I wonder how long it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and chicken I have in there, but not sure what to do now. Any advice/thoughts?
Thanks.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, and would proceed with original plans. Consider that the foodstuff was already cold to begin with and it took a period of time for the temperature to reach that level.
-- Wayne Boatwright *¿* _____________________________________________
"Wayne Boatwright" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Wed 21 Dec 2005 04:41:55a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Allan?
Quoted message said:
I just stocked up on food for the holidays last night, but unfortunately it seems I over-did it, because when I got up this morning, I noticed the fridge has been open, just slightly ajar, since 2am last night, so that's about 6-7 hours. With quite a bit of fresh meat in there, as well as milk and lots of deli stuff with a best-before-date of Jan 4th, I wonder how long it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and chicken I have in there, but not sure what to do now. Any advice/thoughts?
Thanks.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, and would proceed with original
plans.
Quoted message said:
Consider that the foodstuff was already cold to begin with and it took a period of time for the temperature to reach that level.
-- Wayne Boatwright *¿* _____________________________________________
I just stocked up on food for the holidays last night, but unfortunately it seems I over-did it, because when I got up this morning, I noticed the fridge has been open, just slightly ajar, since 2am last night, so that's about 6-7 hours. With quite a bit of fresh meat in there, as well as milk and lots of deli stuff with a best-before-date of Jan 4th, I wonder how long it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and chicken I have in there, but not sure what to do now. Any advice/thoughts?
Thanks.
I hate that! I've had it happen a few to times. The fridge was still cooling even though it was open just a crack so I'm sure it wasn't very good for the electric bill. If your house gets cooler at night as ours does during the winter - thermostat turned down low - it would be less of a concern than if you are experiencing warm or humid conditions. Anyway, if your deli stuff and meat were in the back of the fridge or the meat keeper they should be ok. I'd pay particular attention to any change in colour or smell though especially with the chicken. Cheeses should be fine. Milk might be iffy. My rule of thumb is if there is any change in colour or smell enough to give doubt, I toss. Thank goodness this has only happened few times with this fridge mainly due to a levelling problem but at least once because something was sticking out far enough to prevent the door from shutting completely.
"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I hate that! I've had it happen a few to times. The fridge was still cooling even though it was open just a crack so I'm sure it wasn't very good for the electric bill. If your house gets cooler at night as ours does during the winter - thermostat turned down low - it would be less of a concern than if you are experiencing warm or humid conditions. Anyway, if your deli stuff and meat were in the back of the fridge or the meat keeper they should be ok. I'd pay particular attention to any change in colour or smell though especially with the chicken. Cheeses should be fine. Milk might be iffy. My rule of thumb is if there is any change in colour or smell enough to give doubt, I toss. Thank goodness this has only happened few times with this fridge mainly due to a levelling problem but at least once because something was sticking out far enough to prevent the door from shutting completely.
The culprit was a carton of milk that stuck out from the shelf just enough to be a problem. I don't think there is any immediate problem with any of the food, but I will probably have to adopt the Seinfeld fridge philosophy of deducting at least a few days from the "use before" dates.
: it will now stay fresh? The temperature had dropped to 19 degrees Celsius by : the time I noticed it. I was planning to freeze some of the steaks and
The temperature _dropped_? Then you've done yourself a favor by leaving it open and cooling things off...