Is it safe to eat cooked chicken that has been out for 4 hours? [duplicate]

When I go to school and bring my lunch I like to have chicken but I go at 7:30 and eat at 11:20. Is it still safe to eat or I should not eat it?

food-safety chicken

Best Answer

This would be a scenario like several reputable food safety standards (eg australian) describe as "safe for immediate consumption", others would consider it unsafe. Let all these statements stand, and decide.

To minimize freshness loss and risk: If not leaving home with the pan hot, refrigerate instantly after cooking, probably using cold water around the container, and refrigerate to as cold a temperature as you can manage. In summer weather, ice packs or other cold things kept with the packaging are prudent to use.

Referring to http://foodsafety.asn.au/topic/temperature-danger-zone/ , considering Australia a country having sound scientific basis for their recommendations.

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Can you eat cooked chicken left out for 4 hours?

Cooked chicken that has been sitting out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90\xb0 F) should be discarded. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked chicken is kept at temperatures between 40\xb0 F and 140\xb0 F. To prevent foodborne illness, try to refrigerate the cooked chicken as soon as you can.

Can I eat chicken thats been left out for a few hours?

You can safely leave raw chicken out at room temperature for about two hours \u2014 or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit \u2014 says the United States Department of Agriculture. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when raw chicken is kept at temperatures between 40\xb0 F and 140\xb0 F.

How long can cooked chicken sit out before it goes bad?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90\xb0F or above, you should cut that time in half.

Is it safe to eat cooked chicken left out for 4 hours?

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