re: Left my pot of chili on the stove overnight

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food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away

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That’s ridiculous.

The refrigerator doesn’t magically cool food to 35 degrees in a minute.

And I leave food unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours almost every day.

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According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away.

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If I followed this guideline I don't think I would ever save a single left over from any meal I've cooked ever in my life.

The most dangerous temperature range is above room temperature and below 140.

That said, it's better to replace it. Eating it won't be fatal but you might get sick.

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Would you eat it?

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No mold, yep

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The most dangerous temperature range is above room temperature and below 140.

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4 hours in that range is the prime time for bacteria to develop. Doesn’t mean it will, but conditions are ripe for bacteria development then.

I would probably throw it out just to be safe. Good chance it’s fine, but food borne illnesses are no fun.

For Thanksgiving I left of pot smothered merlitons and shrimp on the stove overnight. Next morning I heated up on the stove really for about 5-10 minutes and ate it. Along with a lot of my in laws, none of us got sick.

I’m rolling the dice.

I’ve put it in a crock pot on high and will let it simmer until 12:30 or so.

Kind of banking that any likely pathogens won’t be able to handle the 170 degrees for 5 full hours.

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between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone")

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It will be fine. Chili takes forever to go bad.

I’ve had it.
It’s miserable.