If the ice is still frozen, the food is cold enough. If this were me and I didn't want to take on all that dividing and prep at once, but was worried about keeping it cold, I would just freeze some of the pieces whole, thaw and cook when needed and then portion and freeze the cooked meat.

Maybe when he returns from shopping, you could suggest both of you working together to prep it all for freezing.

Thanks. Yes, we have to work together to put the stuff away. We are getting old and he cannot seem to get going until late in the day or early evening. Too darn late.

We talked, for the few seconds I could get his (increasingly ADHD-like attention. He greed to put the meat difectly into the fridge. At 7 to 8 pm, I am too tired to fool around re-packaging food for the freezer.

He is growing obdurate. He will not work with me to MOVE and this house is large and requires a lot of work. He is very very reluctant to help pick up and clean and maintain. Even calling painters or roof gutter people.He says he’s going to, but week after week, month after month, he does nothing.

He will not sit down and go through finances with me. Pig headed, numb, stubborn, foolish, controlling? It’ making me bonkers. More than a few arguments. He says, ”Right!”

But does nothing. ”Right” seems to mean, ” go away.”

I have to cope with substntial pain and fatigue and isolation. Grrrrr. Well at least the ptomaine risk seems to be in check for now. His new PCP see s useless, so I need to somehow find him a geriatrics doc. Toss a dart at the yellow pages?

Food safety isn't a matter of opinions or feeling fine because there's ice in a chest. The USDA says that meat needs to be kept below 40°F. Fish and poultry used or cooked within 2 days, other meats within 3-5. There may be some wiggle room of a day or two on day recommendations but not on the safe temperature.

Petalique, it sounds from the various incidents and conduct of his you've shared that your husband may be experiencing cognitive decline or even the onset of some form of dementia. Or depression? I'm not an expert by any means, I know neither of you, but the things going on suggests problems are brewing that may only get worse.

Do you have family or friends nearby who could help you?

I wish you well.

Edit to correct- s/b Frozen or cooked

Ask around. This sounds like a primary issue of mental decline. That can include covering with difficult emotional displays and denial. You need help. If you don't have family or friends you can lean on, try service organizations. Ask people you know for a good gerontologist, or look for local doctors online. Sometimes there are reviews, or recommendations from the local community. It's possible that there's a medical intervention that can help. It's also possible that there are structural deficits that can't be reversed but which can be identified and coped with. Coolers nowadays are pretty good if left in a not-hot place and unopened. What's more concerning is the change in behavior.

If you think moving is a good idea, you can try chipping away at the downsizing,. 10-20 minutes a day can do great things. But if he's covering for a serious cognitive problem, moving to an unfamiliar place could be traumatic. If your lifestyle will fit in a more convenient place (no stairs, close to medical and family care, etc.), and he's happy to move but not do the work, you can hire movers who will pack and unpack for you, and also make boxes for storage of stuff you don't want to deal with. Sometimes just moving stuff is easier, and tackling the boxes one by one is easier than doing the whole house at once.

Good luck with everything.

In the past, when his brain was working better...

This may be something that needs to be mentioned to his doctor or just ask the PCP for several names of geriatric specialists. Many of the behaviors you mention like laziness, being obdurate,etc. could related to his "brain [not] working better." Getting a good doctor could be a great help to you as well. It is so difficult and exhausting to live in the situation in which you find yourself and you deserve finding someone who could help.

I had similar thoughts to plllog’s and cyn427’s. I think that, besides being potentially dangerous at worst and wasteful at best food management, this is evidence of something more serious going on with your DH.

I am not sure what the OP truly wants addressed, food safety or her spouses cognitive decline? Best practice would have all refrigerated food put in a proper refrigerator ASAP. Length of time out of the proper cooling environment directly effects how long the product will be good to eat. Safe to eat cannot be judged in a blanket manner. The USDA has to give guidance that keeps even the most stupid among us safe. Working a hot dog stand, once upon a time, I had a butcher tell us as long as the hot dogs packages felt cool when put up to our cheeks they were safe to cook and eat. (The conversation was prompted by hot dog packages left in coolers overnight, no ice in sight when we came upon the situation). I'll leave that there.

As to the spouses cognitive decline. Here is not where to seek advice. Offspring, neighbors, friends who interact with him is who should be consulted. Are they seeing what you are, how far has the decline progressed? Unfortunately, it's one thing to see a person's decline it's another when said decline endangers others. Follow your gut. Seek help now.

Agreeing about addressing this behavior issue as a medical concern ASAP.

And FWIW, listeria can grow even under refrigeration, so there's that...

Both the Alzheimer's Association Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 and NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) can help you navigate this sensitive situation .