Originally Posted by
halfbakedi420
meat has its own preservative in it
Huh?
Meat at room temperature is quickly colonized by bacteria and begins to spoil. No preservatives present, so I'm not sure where you got your info. As to the OP's question, it's like the others have stated. It's all about temperature and time. Keep it cool, and refreeze it as soon as possible and you should minimize the contamination from bacteria (which is ultimately what spoils meat).