How Long Can Fried Chicken Sit Out?

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You must have been in scenarios where you had to leave your food out. Yeah, the general rule is that cooked meals should not sit out for more than two hours.

According to advice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), cooked food should not be allowed to sit out at room temperature.

But how long can fried chicken sit out? Fried Chicken is also a cooked meal, so it is only reasonable that the same rule applies to it.

Learn about your options while leaving your fried chicken to sit out.

The General Rule of Thumb

According to advice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Leaving your food to sit out under room temperature is actually harmful to your health. They refer to this as “Danger Zone,” which is between 40°F and 140°F.

The logic behind this is that bacteria multiply at this temperature, and the left-out food can become unsafe to eat. USDA recommends that food sitting at room temperature should not be left out for more than an hour.

How Long Can Fried Chicken Sit Out?

How Long Can Fried Chicken Sit Out

Basically, fried chicken can sit out for a period of 2 HOURS after preparing if it has been kept at room temperature or above 32°C.

If the room temperature is just above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, you shouldn’t leave your fried chicken out for more than an hour.

The USDA advises that food kept out for more than 2 hours should be discarded. This is because, between that time, the bacteria in the chicken will keep building until it becomes bad for consumption.

And this is why it is called “Danger Zone.” These bacteria can cause foodborne illnesses like food poisoning. Instead of leaving your fried chicken to sit out, store it in the refrigerator

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can Cooked Chicken Sit Out?

According to advice from the United States Department of Agriculture, you can safely leave your cooked chicken out at room temperature for up to two hours.

If the temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, one hour should be the time limit for letting your cooked chicken sit out. You should discard cooked chicken sitting out for longer than 2 hours or 1 hour above 90°F.

How Do I Store Fried Chicken In The Refrigerator?

You do not store fried chicken in the refrigerator by just throwing them in. There are steps to follow so that the fried chicken doesn’t lose its taste.

Steps for storing Fried Chicken:

  1. Wrap your chicken in foil,
  2. Place in a big container and seal tightly
  3. Then you can place the container in the refrigerator.

What Happens If I Eat Fried Chicken That Has Been Sitting Out For More Than 2 Hours?

Ingesting food that has been left to sit out under room temperature for more than two hours can lead to foodborne illness.

This is because bacteria multiply when fried chicken is kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F. To prevent falling ill, preserve your fried chicken in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat them.

How Long Can Fried Chicken Last In The Refrigerator Before Going Bad?

You can safely keep chicken in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days; it will also be well preserved in the freezer for at least 4 months. First, you need to wrap your fried chicken in foil and put it in an airtight container.

Is Fried Chicken Okay If Left Out Overnight?

Leaving your fried chicken to sit out overnight is a sure way of saying, “let me throw them away.”

Fried Chicken left out overnight breaks the general rule that leaving fried chicken for more than two hours is harmful to the health. So no, fried chicken left out overnight is not okay.

Does Storing Fried Chicken In The Refrigerator Change Its Taste?

The answer is No! Fried Chicken wrapped in foil-sealed in an airtight container still tastes as delicious. You just have to reheat the fried chicken, and you’re good to go.

How Do I Heat My Refrigerated Fried Chicken?

Before eating your refrigerated fried chicken, you should reheat it in the microwave. You can do this by placing the foiled fried chicken in a microwave-proof bowl and reheating.

Conclusion

Before eating left-out chicken, it’s vital to know how long can fried chicken sit out. You should actually check the time to see if it has exceeded the 2 hours general rule from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Eating fried chicken that has been out for more than two houses could lead to foodborne illness.

The best way to preserve your fried chicken is to store it in the refrigerator. And refrigerated fried chicken can stay for up to 5 days before going bad. Enjoy!

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