Refrigerator left open?

[sbgrace]

My husband got home really late last night and had stopped at the grocery on his way home. He unloaded and went to bed. At 3 am (sick kid) I noticed the refrigerator was open a crack. The things felt cold to cool depending on location but most stuff was sweating. Hubby thinks he unloaded between 11 and 12 pm. So the door was open from 3 to a maximum of 4 hours.

 

Do you think things (especially my meat) are safe?

[Chris in VA]

Probably.

But then, I'm a risk taker.:D

[Jean in Newcastle]

Yes.

[MamaAkins]

I think if they are cool to the touch, you're probably safe.

[Belacqua]

I'd use it.

 

This has got me wondering, though...how do the grocery store refrigerators, such as in the milk aisle, work without doors? At the store I use, the freezers have doors, some food is kept in the chest-style refrigerators (so the cold air stays lower, with the food), but some cold food is kept on what seem to be refrigerated shelves. How do they stay cold?

[HLDoll]

You ought to be fine. My son left our basement fridge open, several inches for about 10 hours, and we drank the last bit of milk and ate the yogurt and sour cream that were down there with no ill effects.

[TKDmom]

I've had that happen before. Your fridge was probably running constantly for those hours to keep cool. Things right near the door might have warmed up some, but I'd just be aware of it, and smell the meat and milk before using.

[Tap]

We have a door that bounces open when the freezer is closed, so this happens all the time here. We have never had a problem eating anything from our fridge.