The "don't leave food out for more than 2 hours" rule isn't about frozen food, it's about food being served--at a picnic or potluck dinner situation. It refers specifically about things like potato salad that go off quickly, NOT frozen meat. I've taken food safety courses, and they will try to scare you, but common sense needs to prevail. The more realistic rule is to "keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold". Fridge temperature is 4C/40F, if your food goes above fridge temperature for too long, then you can worry.
The recommendation for thawing frozen food is definitely to do it in the fridge, but as long as there are still ice crystals in the food, you can leave it out--if you take a roast of 2 lbs or more out in the morning, you are totally safe to eat it for dinner (barring a very hot day, then just use common sense--you can quick thaw in a sink full of cold water).
Even a pound of hamburger is just fine on the counter top as long as it still has ice crystals in it, I go by touch--if it's seriously cold, it's fine. If it's just cool, it's gone above fridge temperature.
Common sense needs to prevail, throwing away perfectly good food is a real waste.
The recommendation for thawing frozen food is definitely to do it in the fridge, but as long as there are still ice crystals in the food, you can leave it out--if you take a roast of 2 lbs or more out in the morning, you are totally safe to eat it for dinner (barring a very hot day, then just use common sense--you can quick thaw in a sink full of cold water).
Even a pound of hamburger is just fine on the counter top as long as it still has ice crystals in it, I go by touch--if it's seriously cold, it's fine. If it's just cool, it's gone above fridge temperature.
Common sense needs to prevail, throwing away perfectly good food is a real waste.
