Cooking Brisket and my temp dropped overnight

Colorado Cuban

this is my 3rd brisket. My temp dropped below 130 overnight. (My guess steady decline over 5 or 6 hours) How can I find out if the meat is still safe to eat after completion? I realize the bge needs to be raised to 250 or 300.

icemncmth

Since you have no way of knowing how long the meat sat at that temp...I would probably toss it.

Not worth getting sick over.

It sucks be most of us have had to toss something. I once tossed 20 lbs of pork shoulder because the temp had dropped during the night.

SmokeyPitt

According to this site, food should only be stored between 90-140 for up to an hour.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Danger_Zone/index.asp

It's probably safer to toss it.

BigA

Well I am not telling you what to do here because it is up to you... But I am not concerned with the temp dropping to 130. i have had meat drop over night and i fire back up the egg and cook it to the desired internal temp and then i eat it. I am not scared of the BIG SCARE of meat being under 140. I let meat thaw out on the counter. There are people out there that do and dont. that is up to you. What ever you feel is safe is the way you should go. I feel safe defrosting meat on the counter and if my meat drops over night to crank it back up and eat it. It would be a different story if it was at that temp for hours and hours, but i bet that it was only at that temp for the most an hr or 2, that is a guess. In my opinion, I eat it. But do what you think is safe. Dont want you eating it and thinking about it the whole time, saying "Well BigA said it was ok" but there is know way of knowing unless you bring it into your local USDA food office and have them put it under a scope.

Morro Bay Rich

Feed a piece to the dog and wait an hour. If the dog wants more you are probably OK. :P

cookn biker

This is the correct information.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutrition/00022.html

Kokeman

You say "below" 130. What is that? 125? If the temp dropped slow over night, it should be fine. I am no expert, but I would finish and eat it. You should make your own decision though.