# Have these slices of turkey been spoiled? (Need answer fast)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 18, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567 "2009-09-18T07:24:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567/1 "2009-09-18T07:24:45Z")

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Stupid question and I’m almost ashamed to have to ask it here, but this is the situation. At about 9:30 PM I bought a half-pound of Boar’s Head cracked-pepper turkey slices, among many other things. I put them down on the counter in the plastic bag, ate a few pieces right out of the bag while cooking dinner (out of other ingredients,) and then sealed the zip-loc bag shut. I forgot to put the sealed back back in the fridge. I went out at about 10:30 and just got back at a little before 2 AM. I noticed the turkey slices in the bag still sitting there, and I promptly put them in the refrigerator.

Should I just throw them away? Are they no longer fit to eat?

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**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567/2 "2009-09-18T07:48:43Z")

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4.5 hours sitting on a counter, but in a sealed bag. I’d say they’d still be good. \*

- IANA food health scientist

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**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567/3 "2009-09-18T10:44:33Z")

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Smell them. If they smell rank or nasty, toss. If not, you’re safe. I’ll venture that your turkey is just fine though.

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-these-slices-of-turkey-been-spoiled-need-answer-fast/510567/4 "2009-09-18T10:45:38Z")

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I ate it up about an hour ago and I feel fine.