Left Brine Out Overnight—Is it Safe?
I prepared a brine and left it to cool. It's been sitting at room temp for like 2 hours. No meat has been placed in it, just apple cider, water, and seasonings/herbs. Is it still safe to use?
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4 Comments
Absolutely safe to use! She (the brine) is ready for your turkey. But! If it smells a little off or if you feel uneasy about it, you can always make a new batch for peace of mind. If this was me, I would absolutely use!
Good luck!
Lauren - HQ Manager
This is totally fine. Firstly, I think this specific mixture could last at room temperature for a lot longer than 2 hours. But a good rule of thumb for any cooked food is that it must be refrigerated after 4 hours at room temperature. Though I honestly bet this specific mixture could last a good deal longer as all the ingredients themselves were already shelf stable.
Hope this helps!
- Justin from the Hotline team
Even with the apple cider and orange peels in the brine, I wouldn't worry about it! Your brine should have salt in it, which is a natural preservative. As long as there was no meat in it yet, I'd say you're good to go! Let us know if you have any other questions!
Noah T - Food52 Test Kitchen