You pulled an all-nighter working on a project and forgot to put away the leftover pot roast on the counter Or you cooked a nice steak for dinner but fell asleep before refrigerating the remains, Is that meat still safe to eat if left out overnight?
Unfortunately, the USDA gives a hard “no” to eating beef or any meat left at room temperature for over 2 hours (1 hour if above 90°F) But some food safety experts think the risk may be overstated in certain cases
Let’s dig into the science and debate around leftovers left out Here’s what you need to know about safety, proper storage, and when overnight meat might pass the smell test.
Why Leftover Meat Spoils at Room Temp
First, why does meat left out overnight pose a food safety issue?
The main risk is pathogenic bacteria – harmful bugs like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Small amounts of these bacteria are killed during the initial cooking. But some can survive and begin rapidly multiplying on the cooked meat if left at room temperature for too long.
Danger Zone Temperatures
Pathogens thrive between 40°F and 140°F – known as the “danger zone” temperatures. Room temp falls right in this sweet spot. Bacteria can double in just 20 minutes!
Overnight = Exponential Growth
So after several hours at room temp, bacteria growth becomes exponential. The meat may look, smell and taste normal, but pathogens have multiplied to dangerous levels.
USDA Stance on Leftover Meat at Room Temp
The USDA takes a hardline stance that cooked meats left out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F) should be discarded.
They don’t make exceptions based on the visual appearance, aroma, taste, or planned recooking of the meat. Any leftovers outside the fridge over 2 hours gets the boot.
The USDA’s guidance is meant to be simple, absolute, and easy to remember. There’s no wiggle room in their time limits.
But Is Some Leniency Warranted?
Some food safety experts think the USDA’s 2-hour rule is overly rigid and simplistic.
For example, J. Kenji López-Alt of Serious Eats has written that steak held at room temp for 5-6 hours is likely still safe to consume if seared afterwards.
His rationale is that whole steaks have very little surface area for bacteria to grow on initially. And the high, even heat of searing should kill any pathogens that did multiply.
But he stresses this only applies to whole cuts of beef, not ground meats which are more prone to bacteria.
Best Practice Is Still to Refrigerate Promptly
The food science geeks can debate this all day. But for practical purposes, the safe move is sticking to the USDA’s 2-hour limit at room temp.
When in doubt, toss it out. Prevention is easier than a week of violent food poisoning!
So unless you 100% know the time and temp history, refrigerate leftover meat ASAP, within:
- 2 hours after cooking (1 hour above 90°F)
- 1 hour after serving if eaten partially
Set a phone timer if needed. Don’t take risks with your health.
Reheating May Not Kill all Bacteria
You may think you can revive meat left out overnight by cooking it thoroughly again. But this isn’t guaranteed to kill all the pathogens.
Some bacteria can form spores and toxins that may survive typical reheating temperatures. Not worth the gamble!
Signs Meat Has Spoiled
If you’re still tempted to eat meat that sat out a while, check for these signs of spoilage before tasting:
- Slimy or sticky texture
- Grey, green, or dark discoloration
- Strange odor – sulfurous, ammonia, sour, or very fishy
Any of these cues indicate bacterial growth. When in doubt, throw it out!
How to Store Leftover Meat Safely
To avoid needing to trash leftovers, be diligent about proper storage:
Refrigerate: Divvy meat into shallow containers for fast chilling.
Freeze: For longer storage, freeze meat in air-tight packaging. Thaw in fridge before reheating.
Portion: Wrap individual servings so you only defrost what you’ll eat.
Labelling leftovers with dates helps track freshness too. Follow the “2 hour rule” for room temp and you’ll never have to second-guess leftover meat again!
The Verdict on Eating Meat Left Out
Your best bet is sticking to the tried and true rule of refrigerating or freezing meat within 2 hours of cooking.
The USDA’s stance is clear. Don’t let wishful thinking about saving wasted food put your health in jeopardy. When in doubt, throw it out!
How Long Can You Leave Food Out?
FAQ
What happens if I eat beef left out overnight?
How long can beef be unrefrigerated?
Is it okay to eat food that was left out overnight?
Can you eat meat that thawed overnight?
Is it safe to leave food out overnight?
If a perishable food (such as meat or poultry) has been left out at room temperature overnight (more than two hours) it may not be safe. Discard it, even though it may look and smell good. Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled. . Never leave food in the Danger Zone over two hours; one hour if outside temperature is above 90 °F.
Can you eat raw meat if left out overnight?
If bacteria can double in just 20 minutes, imagine the numbers if the meat has been left out overnight. The USDA states that any food that has been left out at room temperature for over two hours should be discarded. If the temperature is above 90 F, the window is one hour. Can Eating Raw Beef Make You Sick?
Is it safe to eat food left out of the fridge?
While it’s ultimately up to you whether you eat or toss, many eaters are rightfully wary of food that has been left out of the fridge for a couple hours or more. Additionally, Foodsafety.gov also has a wealth of tips and recommendations on keeping your foods fresh and safe to eat!
Does frozen meat go bad if left out at room temperature?
Perhaps this answer should be clarified to point out that the “danger zone” applies to the food’s temperature and not to the ambient temp around the food. For instance, if you set some frozen meat out to defrost at room temperature, it hasn’t gone bad after sitting for two hours. It’s probably still frozen solid at that point.