Why Is It Unsafe To Defrost Food At Room Temperature. I doubt you’d die or get seriously sick, but with raw meat it is best to be on the safe side and defrost in the fridge or microwave. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen as it thaws on the counter, the outer layer of the food could be in the danger zone, between 40 and 140 °f — temperatures where bacteria multiply rapidly.
Among the above four defrosting methods, defrosting at room temperature is not recommended. Food left above 40 °f (unrefrigerated) is not at a safe temperature. Ideally, defrost these foods in the fridge.