Meat left out

[MommaLura]

So, because I'm a goof the groceries got left out (again). How long are you comfortable leaving meat out? The house is kept at about 82 (f) and we have a 30 minute drive home. The groceries were discovered several hours later (maybe 3). I'm a psycho about food safety, so I want to just throw it away, but dh doesn't and its expensive. I hope some day I'll get my mind together again and I can stop wasting food

[velochic]

As long as you are cooking it through, 3 hours wouldn't bother me. I left out lamb shoulder for 24 hours and THAT, I did throw out. But 2 or 3 hours would not bother me. Heck, I leave my meat to come to room temperature before cooking and that can be up to a couple of hours. We keep our house around 73F/23C.

[Arduinna]

I'd be ok with a couple hours.