![\"How](\"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/How-Long-Can-Cooked-Chicken-Sit-Out.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\nHow Long Can Cooked Chicken Sit Before Going Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is it bad to eat chicken that has been left out longer than two hours?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of people dont realize that bacteria is all around them, even in the air. When this bacteria settles on food such as cooked chicken, it is given a nutrition source to feed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To add to this, bacteria grows rapidly<\/a> in temperatures between 40\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) and 140\u00b0F (60\u00b0C). In fact, the USDA refers to this range of temperatures as the Danger Zone. At this point, the number of microbes can double within 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After two hours, the number of bacteria on the cooked or leftover chicken<\/a> will be significantly higher. This may be enough to cause disease or at the very least, an upset stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should know that the warmer that it is in your kitchen or home, the more quickly that the bacteria will multiply. Thus, if the temperature is greater than 90\u00b0F (32\u00b0C) you should only let the chicken stay on the kitchen counter for a maximum of one hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You may be wondering what is the worst that can happen if you were to eat cooked meats or chicken if they have been sitting out for more than two hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest concern here is Staphylococcus aureus<\/a> – airborne contaminants that can land on any surface. It can be transmitted from humans into the surrounding environment. These microbes thrive in room temperature conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you were to ingest enough of this bacteria, then you could present with the following food poisoning symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In severe cases you may also see muscle cramping and changes in blood pressure. It can often take two to three days to recover from eating spoiled meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain compromised individuals – especially children – may be even more likely to develop these symptoms. They may also experience a worse case as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is clear that it is bad to let cooked chicken sit out at room temperature. However, what if it was in the middle of winter or the kitchen was very cold? How long can cooked chicken sit out when it is not in the danger zone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrary to popular belief, there are still several strains<\/a> of harmful bacteria that can survive and grow at cooler temperatures. In fact, some strains can even cause perishable foods to spoil in the refrigerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, it isn’t clear how quickly bacteria can reproduce at lower temperatures, but it may still be possible that you will end up with spoiled chicken after six hours. It is best not to take this chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is common knowledge that heat can kill bacteria. This is one of the reasons we cook food at a certain temperature. Following this logic, you would imagine that if you were simply to heat the chicken that you left overnight that you would be able to avoid food poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn’t the case, however. The problem here is that many bacteria produce<\/a> heat resistant toxins. Although the bacteria may be killed, the toxins that can cause food poisoning will still remain. Reheating your food will not have the desired impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"cooked](\"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cooked-chicken.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIs It Safe to Eat Food Left Out for 4 Hours?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can I Eat Chicken Left Out for 6 Hours in Cold Weather?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can You Eat Cooked Chicken If Left Out Overnight If You Reheat It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Identify Cooked Chicken That Has Gone Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"raw](\"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/raw-defrosted-chicken.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n