I didn't want to throw them out (on a fixed income), so I microwaved one and ate it. Frozen food, left out overnight, then refrozen - safe to eat? Allow the cooked meatballs to cool completely, then arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. and no visit to the ER !!!! If you are cooking more or less than the quantity of meatballs indicated in the directions, the cook time should be altered. Frozen, cooked meatballs can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator or reheated directly from the freezer. Transfer the frozen, cooked meatballs to freezer bags or freezer-safe containers and label with type of meatball and date. baking pan in a preheated 350° oven until heated through. I grabbed some stuff I had in the fridge at work last night and brought it home, but I forgot to put it in the freezer, and didn't realize this until this morning. Freeze until solid. When I smell the beef, it smells fine. So after five hours at room temperature, the food left out overnight contains toxins but is not spoiled yet. Yeah baby. After 2 hours I felt fine, so I microwaved the others and had a great dinner . Without lab tests and/or knowing the actual temperature the meatballs attained and for how long, the safest answer would be to say, "No, it is not safe to eat meatballs that were left out overnight." . Due to (what I am assuming was) a miscommunication with my mother, who lives with us, about 3 lbs. There are only three safe ways to thaw raw meat: in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave. Cool. I put it in the freezer at that point, but now I'm pretty sure I don't want to try to eat it. In fact, frozen meals are made specifically to be cooked in the microwave from a frozen state, and most makers recommend discarding any allowed to thaw before being cooked. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Are cooked meatballs good if left out overnight? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends following the “2-hour rule” for meats and other perishable items. Defrosting meat in the refrigerator is the easiest, but takes the most time. Bacteria doesn’t need long to spread over a surface and grows best at temperatures between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer the room, however, the less time meat should be left out. Place meatballs on greased racks in shallow baking pans. In this stage, you can’t see, smell or taste that the food has gone bad. Frozen meat should not be left out for more than two hours at room temperature, because this can render it unsafe to eat. of thawing beef chuck was left out overnight on our counter top. Spoilage occurs after about 10 hours. Bake at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until no longer pink, turning often; drain. According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away.That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and didn't remember to put in in the refrigerator until 5 this AM. freshlycured | Jun 17, 2012 04:19 AM 31. The microwave instructions on the back of the package are for the stated specific number of meatballs and may vary depending on meatball variety and size. Last night, after making a fresh batch of red sauce w/ sausage, I left it in the pot to cool on the stove. . I came to this forum early this morning because I had left out cooked meatballs over night. In this range of temperatures, bacteria grows rapidly and the food can become unsafe to eat, so it should only be left out no more than two hours. You've probably accidentally left food out on your kitchen counter overnight at least once or twice, but is it still safe to eat? Red Sauce left out overnight - Still safe to eat? So it was out a good 12 hours. Please note that microwaves and power levels vary. We don't have our heat on yet, so it was in the low 60's F, around 17*C all night long. The real danger here is that the count of bacteria for food to be spoiled is very high. Cooked food sitting at room temperature is in what the USDA calls the “Danger Zone,” which is between 40°F and 140°F. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatballs in freezer containers. Reheat on a greased 15x10x1-in.