Do I have to throw it out??

[mendogurl]

Hey everyone-
So yesterday evening I bought a lovely, plump, chicken, planning to roast it on a string in the fireplace, and forgot it in the grocery bag on the back porch. Put it in the fridge at about 4 am when I remembered it.
It was probably about 40 degrees on the porch.
I have to throw it out, right??

(just want someone to tell me it's good !!!!!! LOL)

THANKS.

[normalheightsfoodie]

How will you cook it in the fireplace on a string? What about the drippings and the flare ups? How do you do it with out the string burning?

[mendogurl]

I just started a thread about fireplace cooking. I will post your question and my answer there.
It is VERY cool.

[suby]

I agree. I'd use it, and I'm the type to toss out anything questionable.

[shaogo]

Okay -- it's good. I mean it.

I'm going to assume that the chicken was either wrapped in cellophane from the market, or if purchased from a butcher, it was at least wrapped in wax paper and Kraft paper. The chicken was only "out" from, let's say 6:00 when you got home until 4 a.m. That's less than half a day. I'd tell you to keep the bird even if it was 50 degrees out.

But you said it was 40 degrees on the porch. Go take a look at your refrigerator thermometer. It probably reads 40 degrees. You see, you're chicken's okay, I swear!

Chicken is a lot hardier when it's left out than many people think. And when properly wrapped and chilled, it lasts far longer than many people think, too.

[mendogurl]

That's what I thought.
It was in cellophane and wrapped in brown paper, tucked into a big bag of chilled beets and greens. Definitely cool to the touch.
I hate the idea of throwing it out, but don't want to spend New Year's in the ER.

YAY ! Thanks guys.

[NYCkaren]

Surely it would be fine at 40 degrees. That's just a bit above refrigerator temperature, no?