Whether youre making the crispiest oven roasted chicken or trying out chef Andrew Zimmerns zesty fried chicken recipe, chicken can feed a crowd at a party or cookout, and its even easier to serve if you leave it out on a tray for guests to help themselves. But if you’re going to leave your cooked chicken out at room temperature or even take it somewhere else, you should know how long it can stay out of the fridge before it starts to grow bacteria. Unfortunately, a short amount of time can make the difference between a delicious, safe-to-eat meal and a nasty bout of food poisoning.
According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, cooked poultry can sit at room temperature for no longer than two hours — and in hot weather above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it can only sit out for an hour at most. Dangerous pathogens will be able to grow in chicken that is left out for too long, so you should put any leftovers in the fridge before that time runs out.
Chicken is a staple food in many households. It’s versatile, protein-packed, and easy to cook. However, foodborne illnesses can happen if cooked chicken is not stored properly. This is a very important question: how long can cooked chicken stay out at room temperature covered before it gets too bad to eat?
Overview
Cooked chicken should not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours whether covered or uncovered. After this time dangerous bacteria like Salmonella can multiply quickly to unsafe levels that could make you sick. The only way to make chicken safe again is to throw it out. Covering cooked chicken does not make it last longer.
Reheating or adding sauces/marinades also do not make chicken that has been sitting out for over 2 hours safe to eat again Storing cooked chicken properly in the refrigerator within 2 hours is the best way to enjoy delicious leftover chicken without getting sick,
The 2-Hour Rule Applies Even If Chicken Is Covered
They say that cooked chicken shouldn’t be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. This rule applies whether the cooked chicken is stored in a container with a lid, wrapped in foil, or left out on the counter without a lid.
Covering cooked chicken does not prevent bacteria from multiplying. Between 40°F and 140°F, dangerous bacteria like Salmonella can multiply by two every 20 minutes. So, even if the chicken is completely covered, the bacteria level can rise to a dangerous level after two hours.
Why You Can’t Rely On Sight, Smell, Or Taste
The only ways to tell if cooked chicken has been out for too long are to look at it, smell it, or taste it. It’s possible for chicken that has been sitting at room temperature for a long time and is full of bacteria to still look, smell, and taste fine. So using your senses is not a good way to tell if cooked chicken that has been sitting out for a while is safe to eat.
Sauces And Marinades Do Not Make Chicken Safer
Adding sauces, marinades or rubs to cooked chicken does not make it safe to eat after it has been sitting out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Sauces and marinades do not prevent bacterial growth.
Although acidic ingredients like vinegar and lemon juice can slow bacterial growth, they do not stop bacteria from multiplying to unsafe levels in cooked chicken after 2 hours. It’s still unsafe to eat chicken that has been sitting out for a long time, even if it has been covered in barbecue sauce or marinated in lemon juice and herbs.
Reheating Won’t Make Chicken Safe Again
Cooked chicken that has been left out for more than 2 hours cannot be made safe by reheating it. Reheating may kill some bacteria, but not the dangerous toxins that bacteria release. These toxins can still make you sick even after reheating. And some bacteria may survive reheating temperatures anyway.
For food safety, it’s best to just discard cooked chicken that has sat at room temperature for over 2 hours. Don’t rely on reheating to make contaminated chicken safe to eat again.
Risk of Food Poisoning
Eating cooked chicken that has been sitting out for too long puts you at risk for food poisoning. Chicken is especially prone to contamination by bacteria like Salmonella. When you eat chicken containing high levels of these bacteria, you may develop symptoms of food poisoning like:
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever and chills
- Headache
Seek medical attention if food poisoning symptoms last more than 1-2 days or are severe. Some individuals, like older adults, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk for complications from food poisoning.
How to Store Cooked Chicken Safely
To safely enjoy delicious leftover cooked chicken without worrying about bacterial contamination, just remember these tips:
-
Refrigerate within 2 hours – Chicken that has been sitting out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90°F) should be discarded. Otherwise, refrigerate it in shallow airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking.
-
Divide into smaller portions – Cut cooked chicken into smaller pieces so it cools faster in the fridge.
-
Use within 3-4 days – For best quality, eat refrigerated cooked chicken within 3-4 days. Discard if it has been refrigerated longer.
-
Freeze for longer storage – For longer storage, freeze cooked chicken in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It will keep for 4-6 months in the freezer.
Following basic food safety practices keeps your family protected from foodborne illness when enjoying cooked chicken. Don’t let it sit out for more than 2 hours before refrigerating it. With proper handling, you can safely savor delicious leftover chicken for days without having to worry.
Keep cooked chicken warm to prolong its shelf life
To stay healthy, it’s best to not store cooked chicken for more than two hours. However, this rule can be hard to stick to when you’re busy at a party or potluck. If you don’t want to leave your chicken out for too long or just don’t want to put it away too soon, you could use a food warmer to show off your cooked chicken.
Food warmers, like buffet servers, chafing dishes, and electric warming trays, are appliances that keep food warm for a long time. They are usually used for catering events and buffet restaurants. As long as your appliance can maintain a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, it can be a great way to stop microbes from growing. Just remember that these appliances could potentially dry out your cooked chicken over an extended period of time, so exercise caution when displaying your food in a warming tray. For about two to three hours, that should be fine. Any longer than that, and the leftovers might be so dry that you don’t want them anyway.
No, covering chicken in sauce does not prevent spoiling
Many people claim that you can douse cooked chicken in a marinade or slather it with sauce to prevent it from going bad. While this is well-meaning advice, you never want to leave perishable foods out for over two hours before putting them back in storage. Unless youre using high heat or freezing cold temperatures to halt the growth of pathogens, no amount of dressing will keep your cooked chicken from going bad at room temp. Reheating will not fix this issue, either, as the toxins released by harmful germs can withstand the heat and remain on the surface of your food.
Cold storage before the two-hour mark is the single best way to keep your leftovers out of the trash can. When putting your cooked chicken back in the fridge, make sure to keep it sealed in an airtight vessels and away from any raw meat to avoid cross-contamination. When youre ready to enjoy your chicken again, know that the oven is the best way to reheat it, so fire it up and enjoy your (illness-free) leftovers.
Can I leave cooked chicken out overnight?
FAQ
How long can I leave cooked chicken out covered?
Cooked chicken can be left out for 2 hours at the most unless it’s kept warm—above 140°F. Any cooked chicken left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should probably be thrown out. This includes rotisserie chicken. The same applies to cooked chicken enjoyed outdoors, like at a picnic or barbecue.
Is cooked chicken ok after 4 hours?
According to food safety guidelines, cooked chicken should not be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90°F (32°C), this time is reduced to just 1 hour. Leaving cooked chicken out for 4 hours increases the risk of bacterial growth, which can lead to foodborne illness.
How long can chicken be at room temperature before going bad?
Chicken, whether raw or cooked, should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. If the temperature is above 90°F (32°C), the safe time limit is reduced to one hour.
How long can covered cooked food sit out?
The best plan is to put leftovers in the refrigerator right after your meal. Food that is sitting out for a party or picnic should be chilled after two hours at typical room temperature. If it’s above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or more, food should not sit out for more than one hour.