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Miscellaneous
Forgot to refrigerate leftovers — Still okay to eat?
Originally Published: December 22, 2000 ~ Last Updated / Reviewed on: January 26, 2001
 

Alice,

Here's a food preparation question: I made a large tomato sauce with meatballs and several pork chops in it. I cooked it for two hours and turned the heat off at 1:00 AM and went to bed without putting it in the refrigerator. I awoke at 8:00 AM and the sauce was a few degrees above room temperature. If I reheat the sauce, will it be all right to eat? Thanks.

Sleepy cook

 

Dear Sleepy cook,

NO! Never eat any cooked food that's been left out for more than two hours. With leftovers from dining out, it's no more than two hours since the time it's first served, not from when it's packaged to go. That's because holding cooked food out allows microorganisms to live, grow, and multiply. For example, bacterial growth is ripe between 40 - 140°F (4.4 - 60°C). These undesirable characters reproduce rapidly at room temperature (about 70°F or 20°C), some forming toxins that can make you quite ill.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that you can enjoy your food safely:

  • After cooking, your best bet is to place food in shallow containers. This allows your chow to cool down more quickly.
  • Be sure to refrigerate promptly between 34 - 39°F (1.1 - 3.9°C).
  • When you re-heat leftovers, they need to reach 165°F (73.9°C), or be steamy hot all the way through. For sauces, soups, and stews, bring them to a full boil.
  • Storage times for properly refrigerated foods vary, but generally use leftovers within 3 - 5 days.
  • Never taste food that looks or smells strange or unusual. Go by this rule: If in doubt, throw it out!

For more information about food safety, check out the Partnership for Food Safety Education web site.

Alice

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