Would this be safe?

This morning I stopped at the Target store, and picked up a few things, including a couple of frozen dinners. Anyway, I got home about 10am or so, took the frozen dinners in the kitchen and set them down in their plastic bag, and completely forgot about them, until about 4pm. Then I went in the kitchen and found them still sitting on the floor. I picked them up and put them in the fridge - not the freezer because I know you aren't supposed to re freeze things. Anyway, do you thing it wuold be safe to eat them? I don't think they could be spoiled becasue they were frozen when I put them down. Of course they were thawed out by the time I put them in the fridge, but the boxes were still cool, not cold but cool. It was pretty warm out today, I'd say upper 80's or so, but I'm thinking they would have to be sitting out unfrozen for several hours before they would be spoiled. I want to eat one of those dinners now, but I'm a little scared. Would it be safe, do you think?

Sure, I don't think they would be bad. As long as you don't wait too long to eat them

I would not eat them...6 hours is long enough, imo, for things to begin to spoil. I would **hate** throwing them out, but I would.

Dh keeps his frozen dinners in the fridge ALL the time.He takes them to work and leaves them in the fridge all day.......8-10 hours and then eats them.He's not had a problem with them.
I would smell them and take a small bite first.

Originally Posted by crittermom

Dh keeps his frozen dinners in the fridge ALL the time.He takes them to work and leaves them in the fridge all day.......8-10 hours and then eats them.He's not had a problem with them.
I would smell them and take a small bite first.

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That's different though, they were always at a lower temp than frozen that is thawed out on a counter so to speak and left out for so many hours. I wouldn't expect a refrigerator-thawed dinner to spoil in one day.

True!!! Didn't think about that.

I would say that assuming it took afew hours for them to completely defrost,I don't think that would be any different than buying a chilled meal in a sealed container from the supermarket.
If you think about it a chilled meal from the supermarket has been kept in a warm environment for however long it takes from the supermarket to your fridge.

you would have to eat them within the next few days though

This is right at the 6 hour limit. Would it take longer for it to spoil if it was frozen than if not? Like I said the dinners were frozen when I set them down and forgot them. About 6 hours later I found them, thawed. I don't know how long it was that the may have been a room temp. Like I said they were still a bit cool when I put them in the fridge.

I don't have anything else to eat, and I guess that's why I'm considering eating them. People leave Pizza out for hours and hours without refridgerating eat and still eat it.

I would honestly think it was o.k. being that they were complelty frozen when you got them.They cooled down,but were still cool.
If it were me,I'd eat them!!!
But, you go with what you feel is safe!!!!

There are probably so many preservatives in there that it should be fine if it was only 6 hours.

If they have been thawed,then you would have to treat the meals as fresh made,Keep refrigerated but use within the next few days

I found this...seems to support my belief. Honestly, I'd have eggs or pb and j tonight, not one of these.

http://experts.about.com/q/Food-Safe...ozen-foods.htm

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I found this...seems to support my belief. Honestly, I'd have eggs or pb and j tonight, not one of these.

http://experts.about.com/q/Food-Safe...ozen-foods.htm

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Yeah if they have meat in them.

I don't buy ready meals with meat,I'm a veggie

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I found this...seems to support my belief. Honestly, I'd have eggs or pb and j tonight, not one of these.

http://experts.about.com/q/Food-Safe...ozen-foods.htm

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I think I'll toss them. Thanks. I am not going to take the chance.

I am sure it wont hurt you to eat it.

If it was fresh meat then id chuck it out.
But i know that if you cook it hot enough you can kill the bacterias and its still edible?

Do they have meat in them?

When in doubt, throw it out!

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

When in doubt, throw it out!

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Thats a very good philosophy stephanie

But don't throw it out,Heat it up as normal and put it out somewhere where the foxes or wild life can make use of it.They will need all the calories they can get before winter.

Originally Posted by furryferals

Thats a very good philosophy stephanie

But don't throw it out,Heat it up as normal and put it out somewhere where the foxes or wild life can make use of it.They will need all the calories they can get before winter.

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I live in Hollywood California. We don't really get the kind of winters where wild life will need to put on weight for winter, in fact we probably don't have that much wild life or foxes around, except a rat here and there. There is a colony of feral cats not far away. Do you think it would be safe for cats? I would worry about cats or dogs eating the food because a lot of the spices they use in human food, like onions and tomatoes might be harmful to them.

Originally Posted by furryferals

Thats a very good philosophy stephanie

But don't throw it out,Heat it up as normal and put it out somewhere where the foxes or wild life can make use of it.They will need all the calories they can get before winter.

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Well, I didn't even think of that, Di.