Thanks for all the replies. I guess that most people seem to have no problems leaving them out for a few hours. I would assume that your climate is a little different. I saw a "thawing time chart" that gave times for rats of different gram sizes different hours for thawing, but they said at 72F room temperature. Here, other than in the winter when it gets to around mid to low 70s, it stays pretty much about 80F, going up even more in the deep of summer. Not sure if that will make the rats spoil faster.

I guess I will have to try it out. But anyone have any expert opinion would be welcome to comment and appreciated.