zookeeper Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I discovered a package of chicken in my trunk that didn't get taken out yesterday. The temperature hasn't been above freezing since it was put in there yesterday. Do you think I can still use it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I wouldn't. But first I would smell it, and then shrug my shoulders and throw it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerPoppy Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Below freezing the whole time? I'd probably use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Below freezing the whole time? I'd probably use it. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I wouldn't. But first I would smell it, and then shrug my shoulders and throw it away. That's what I'd do, too. I wouldn't feel that I'd investigated fully if I didn't smell it first. I wouldn't actually open the package or anything, though, because it might actually smell and I wouldn't like that. :ack2: I'd just sniff it a couple of times through the packaging, convince myself that it might possibly smell a little "off," and then I'd throw it out. Realistically, it's probably fine if it was frozen the whole time, but I would never take a chance on my family getting sick because I didn't want to spend a few extra dollars on a replacement chicken. I hate it when I accidentally forget to refrigerate stuff, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Below freezing the whole time? I'd probably use it. :iagree:, unless you were in the car w/ the heater going full blast for much of that time. If it never got above freezing, then it was probably colder in your trunk then in a cooler if you had been camping, so I think it's fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 :iagree: :iagree:, unless you were in the car w/ the heater going full blast for much of that time. If it never got above freezing, then it was probably colder in your trunk then in a cooler if you had been camping, so I think it's fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cortana Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 :iagree:, unless you were in the car w/ the heater going full blast for much of that time. If it never got above freezing, then it was probably colder in your trunk then in a cooler if you had been camping, so I think it's fine! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbkaren Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Bad chicken smells bad. Cook it thoroughly and enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Bad chicken smells bad. I'm not sure that's always true. You can't always smell the bad bacteria for a while; that's why I don't take any chances. (I am more paranoid than most, though, because I know what food poisoning feels like, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I'm sure I throw a lot of stuff away that would actually be fine to eat, but I would rather be safe than sorry.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyCrazyMama Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I wouldn't even hesitate to use it, that's colder than my fridge.:) Was it frozen when you found it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm pretty paranoid when it comes to the possibility of food poisoning. With it being below freezing, it is probably still good....but I'd probably still throw it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myeightkiddies Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 It's probably fine. If it were me, I would throw it away. I'm a stickler about such things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 If I really believed it had been in an environment colder than my refrigerator the whole time I would absolutely use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbkaren Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I'm not sure that's always true... Maybe, but even if it wasn't frozen all the way, it was at least as cold as if the OP put it in the fridge when she got home. There's nothing about being in a car trunk overnight that that contaminates a package of chicken lol. That's just my take - I too try to be careful but within reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Was the car outside? If so, I'd use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 sure - it was stored at colder temperature than if it had been in your fridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy_of_4 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I would use it. It was colder than your fridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookeeper Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share Posted January 13, 2012 I hadn't thought about it being colder than the fridge. Yeah, I'm sure it's fine then. The car sits outside all the time under a bunch of tree cover so the sun wouldn't even have been shining on it had it been warm enough to matter. I told ds he should thank his lucky stars it was so cold. We've had a very mild winter but the last 24 hours were pretty cold. I would hate to throw it away (though I would if it was bad) because I get my chicken from a co-op so I can't just go to the store and replace it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Absolutely, I regularly use my car/garage/the outside for extra fridge space when my kitchen fridge is too full. It's one of the few benefits of living somewhere that has cold snowy winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Absolutely, I regularly use my car/garage/the outside for extra fridge space when my kitchen fridge is too full. It's one of the few benefits of living somewhere that has cold snowy winters. :iagree: I love my outdoor freezer, aka my mudroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 If my car trunk was as cold as a 'fridge - yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Absolutely, I regularly use my car/garage/the outside for extra fridge space when my kitchen fridge is too full. It's one of the few benefits of living somewhere that has cold snowy winters. When we first got married, dh brought home a huge ham and turkey. His boss gave them to him. I didn't have room in the fridge so I stuck them outside in a snow bank. They were already frozen and stayed that way until I was ready to use them. Can't do that in Arizona...but we can cook hot dogs outside with solar heat! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 Maybe, but even if it wasn't frozen all the way, it was at least as cold as if the OP put it in the fridge when she got home. There's nothing about being in a car trunk overnight that that contaminates a package of chicken lol. That's just my take - I too try to be careful but within reason. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 If it was below 32 F it should be fine. Unless the trunk gets heat from the inside of the car and you drove all day with the heat on. If your car was parked the whole time in freezing weather, then it should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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