{"id":273,"date":"2022-01-20T11:54:21","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T11:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/?p=273"},"modified":"2023-09-20T15:47:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:47:08","slug":"left-chicken-out-overnight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/left-chicken-out-overnight\/","title":{"rendered":"Left Chicken Out Overnight: Is It Safe to Eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have left chicken out overnight, it is no longer safe for consumption. <\/strong>Sorry. Toss that bird in the trash. That chicken has been sitting in \u201cThe Danger Zone\u201d (more on that in a bit) for far too long, letting bacteria multiply and create toxins. No bueno!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a chef, food safety is as important to me as creating delicious food. This is why I take a lot of care in how I store food before and after it has been cooked. Food safety was drilled into us at culinary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll go over how long it\u2019s safe to leave chicken out at room temperature. I will also show you how to properly store raw and cooked chicken<\/a>. Let’s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Left<\/figure>\n\n\n

Leaving Cooked Chicken Out Overnight – Can You Eat It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer is always no.<\/strong> When you discover you left some chicken out on the counter the next morning, you might think the last thing that you want to do is throw out all that meat. Actually, the last thing you want to do is consume that chicken. <\/strong>Here’s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airborne bacteria are all around you. And, every time that you leave meat (like chicken) on the counter, these microbes have the opportunity to settle on food. Once they are on the food, they multiply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria increase most rapidly at a temperature range known as \u201cThe Danger Zone<\/a>.\u201d The Danger Zone for food is temperatures between 40\u00b0F and 140\u00b0F. Bacteria can grow rapidly at these temps, increasing the risk of food poisoning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USDA recommends storing chicken (and all cooked meats) after they\u2019ve been sitting out for 2 hours or after 1 hour if the temperature is above 90\u00b0F. If you\u2019ve left chicken out overnight, it\u2019s been sitting out for far longer than 2 hours. Don\u2019t eat it. It\u2019s likely riddled with bacteria and their toxins.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What If You Reheat the Chicken?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reheating chicken that\u2019s left out too long doesn\u2019t make it safe to eat. <\/strong>I get this question all the time – can’t I just warm up the chicken again? Won’t the heat kill bacteria? After all, this is one of the reasons we cook food in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, cooking food at high temperatures can destroy bacteria. However, bacteria produce toxins. Many of these toxins are resistant to heat and can’t be killed this way. Dispose of any chicken that\u2019s been left out for too long<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s Winter – Is It Safe to Eat Chicken That Has Been Left Out?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No, it\u2019s not safe to eat chicken that\u2019s been left out for longer than 2 hours, even if it\u2019s winter. Unless your kitchen is below 40\u00b0F (refrigeration temps), that chicken is unsafe to eat. If your kitchen is that cold, you\u2019ve got bigger problems than what to do with leftover chicken.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Chicken<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How Can You Identify Spoiled Chicken?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common signs of chicken that\u2019s gone bad are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n