Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed]
![Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Pile of Shrimps on Plates](/assets/images/cooked_food_seafood_left_out_overnight__common_practice_in_some_parts_of_the_world_closed_0.jpeg "Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Pile of Shrimps on Plates")
My partner and I made some shrimp pasta last and forgot to put the leftovers in the fridge. The next morning I promptly proceeded to throw it away, but my partner stopped me and said it was still good to eat. I was very surprised and told him no way should we eat this, and he in turn was very surprised that I would think it was unsafe. He claimed maybe it's a culture thing-- He's from Japan and said people do it all the time there, but noticed his friends in the UK (where we live now) are much more careful. He claims it's also common practice in other places he's lived. I told him it's definately not considered best practice in my home country, but to be fair food freshness in the US is sometimes questionable (e.g. it's not necessary to store eggs in the fridge in most parts of the world).
Am I missing something? Is he just taking a massive risk or have I been raised with overly sanitised food safety practices?
Best Answer
I know I'm going to get panned for this… ;)
Eating something left out overnight can only kill you once; every other time it doesn't.
If bacteria were growing in it they've had sufficient time to build to harmful levels. This is not a 'good thing'.
However, people have been eating last night's leftovers for today's lunch since time immemorial & most of them lived to tell the tale.
Food safety authorities write guidelines for restaurants & commercial kitchens, reducing the potential risk as far as is possible. Restaurants must follow these guidelines because not doing so can kill people.
If it goes awry in a restaurant it can kill many people.
Killing people is not good for business.
These authorities say that keeping food at higher than 4°C & under 60°C for more than two hours [cumulative] is no longer guaranteed to be safe.
This is true.
If it's your own leftovers, it's your call.
Most people do it, most people survive. Some don't.
It's a numbers game. The only one at risk is you.
Right - time to microwave last night's curry leftovers…
Pictures about "Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed]"
![Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Cooked Shrimp and seashell dish](/assets/images/cooked_food_seafood_left_out_overnight__common_practice_in_some_parts_of_the_world_closed_1.jpeg "Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Cooked Shrimp and seashell dish")
![Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Pasta Prawn](/assets/images/cooked_food_seafood_left_out_overnight__common_practice_in_some_parts_of_the_world_closed_2.jpeg "Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Pasta Prawn")
![Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Close-Up Photography of Cooked Shrimps and Pasta](/assets/images/cooked_food_seafood_left_out_overnight__common_practice_in_some_parts_of_the_world_closed_3.jpeg "Cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed] - Close-Up Photography of Cooked Shrimps and Pasta")
Can I eat seafood that was left out overnight?
The USDA says food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. At room temperature, bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick. Reheating something that has been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours won't be safe from bacteria.How long can cooked seafood be left out?
Whether it's raw or cooked, fish can safely sit at room temperature for up to two hours. This time reduces to one hour on hot days when the room is above 90\xb0F. After this time the fish should be discarded or returned to the fridge and thoroughly cooked the next time it is used, to ensure the fish is cooked through.What happens if you eat food left out overnight?
If that food is "perishable"\u2014meaning a food that should be refrigerated to prevent bacteria from multiplying at room temperature\u2014then a foodborne illness is possible if the food is "temperature abused." When contaminated food is left out more than two hours at room temperature, Staph aureus begins to grow and will ...Can you leave cooked shrimp out overnight?
First, let's remember that it is important to handle seafood safely to reduce the risk of food borne illness. Cooked shrimp should be left out no more than 2 hours, and not for more than one hour if the outside temperature is above 90 degrees.How Long Can You Leave Food Out?
More answers regarding cooked food (+seafood) left out overnight - common practice in some parts of the world? [closed]
Answer 2
He...and anyone else who violates food safety protocols is clearly taking a risk. There are simply too many variables at play to make any other claim. We can share personal anecdotes all day, but the fact is, food kept between 40F (4.5C) to 140F (60C) for more than a couple of hours provides a hospitable environment for bacterial growth. That bacterial growth is accelerated at the warmer end of the scale, and it is a logarithmic progression.
By the way, refrigeration of eggs in the US is not about their freshness, but their farming and treatment between the chicken and the supermarket.
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