Food engineer Nurten Sırma: Do not leave sacrificial meat at room temperature — rest it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours

Food engineer Nurten Sırma, emphasizing that improper storage of meat slaughtered during Eid al-Adha can cause serious health problems, issued critical warnings to Cumhuriyet Newspaper.

According to Sırma, fresh meat should be rested in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours — ideally around 24 hours — before cooking or placing it in the freezer. The expert noted that bacterial growth increases rapidly in meat left at room temperature for extended periods, and that this risk is compounded in hot weather conditions.

Sırma also recommended dividing the meat into portions rather than storing it in large pieces, and keeping each portion in a separate bag or container. She also reminded that meat destined for the deep freezer must be packaged airtight. Recalling that food poisoning cases increase significantly during the holiday period, the expert emphasized that following these guidelines substantially reduces the risk.