Forgot to refrigerate last night's takeout? You're not the only one. But is that pizza, those wings, or that delicious dip still safe to eat after sitting out at room temperature? Let's delve into this common food safety dilemma with expert advice.
Christine Schindler, CEO and co-founder of PathSpot, a food safety system used in restaurants, emphasizes the importance of the two-hour rule. "Whether it's pizza, dips, or any other food, avoid eating anything left at room temperature for more than two hours," she advises. While restaurants utilize systems like PathSpot to monitor food conditions, at home, vigilance regarding time and temperature is key.
Food should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking or serving, ideally in shallow containers for faster cooling. Maintain hot foods above 140°F and cold foods below 40°F. These are standard practices tracked digitally by modern monitoring systems.
Schindler's golden rule? "When in doubt, throw it out." If food has been sitting out for over two hours, discarding it is the safest course of action. This includes that tempting leftover pizza from last night. It's simply not safe to eat.
At home, Schindler adheres to science-backed food safety guidelines. Refrigerate leftovers for no more than three to four days, reheat them to 165°F, and discard anything questionable. These standards, based on research and data, offer reliable guidance, even if they appear overly cautious at times.
