"Eddie" > wrote in message
...
>I smoked two butts the other day. Went in about 5pm and pulled out at
> around 2am after hitting 198*
> I put it in an insulated bag and left it outside. By 10am it was
> still warm and served for lunch.
> Should I have put it in the refrig. when I took it out? Any danger of
> bad little critters forming? I figured 198 would just have killed any
> bacteria, so why refrig. right away?
> Eddie

The guys that check to see if you removed the tag on your mattress and
pillows will also lock you up if the temperature of the meat falls below 140
degrees.

Putting the meat in an insulated container will keep it in the safe zone for
a long time. That means above 140. At 198, anything should be dead, but I
guess it can become contaminated from handling also. For that reason, I
don't think anyone can give a definite answer either way. My guess is you
were OK but that is strictly a guess not knowing how warm was warm and how
long it was at any temperature. It can take some hours to have problems
though.