Use or toss - sour cream left out all night

[amcal]

I bought some sour cream at about 8pm last night. I forgot to put it in the refrigerator and realized this morning at about 6am that it was still sitting on the counter. I immediately refrigerated it. It's about 76 in my kitchen at night. It smells fine - well, like sour cream. I need it for a recipe this afternoon. What do you think? Would you use it or toss it?

[melissel]

I just did the same thing with yogurt last night! : I think I'm going to toss mine though. It's probably safest to toss it, but if it's going into a recipe where you'll cook it through well, maybe it's safe enough.

[shershine]

I would use it. I am incrediblly forgetful and leave stuff out all the time. I judge it on a case by case basis: how long was it out, does it smell, what is it, etc. I've never had food posoining or gotten sick from eating something "bad". I have a gut of steel and sometimes I wonder if this is one of the reasons why!

[amcal]

It's going into a bean dip that is cooked on the stove. My fear is that I won't be the only one eating it. It's for a party.

[shershine]

Hmmm.....well, if it's for a party I would probably go out and buy another one, if only for the guests comfort. Even though they wouldn't know, I would probably worry about it.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

I would use it.

[Simplicity]

I'd toss it.

[KatWrangler]

Toss it! $1.50 is cheap compared to people getting sick.

[prettymom]

Toss!

[eclipse]

I'd use it.

[amcal]

I used it. It smelled and tasted absolutely fine. I cooked the dip until bubbly hot so I'm sure it was just fine. Thanks!

[PapayaVagina]

I'd toss but I'm a total freak about dairy stuff like that. I drive my friends crazy with my "how long has this been out" or "what's the expiration date on that?"