How long can frozen food be left unrefrigerated?
Food must be kept at a safe temperature during thawing. Foods are safe indefinitely while frozen. However, as soon as food begins to defrost and become warmer than 40 °F, any bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to multiply. Foods should never be thawed or even stored on the counter, or defrosted in hot water. Food left above 40 °F (unrefrigerated) is not at a safe temperature. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen as it thaws on the counter, the outer layer of the food is in the “Danger Zone,” between 40 and 140 °F – at temperatures where bacteria multiply rapidly. When defrosting frozen foods, it’s best to plan ahead and thaw food in the refrigerator where food will remain at a safe, constant temperature – 40 °F or below. There are three safe ways to defrost food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave. Big things like turkeys are best done in the refrigerator, as it takes a lot longer to thaw. I mostly use cold running w
