How long can chicken be at room temperature before spoiling?

Answer 1

Generally, potentially hazardous food should not be left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours at normal room temperature. If the ambient temperature is high - say around 90°F - cut that time to an hour. At that point, it should be re-heated or refrigerated.

If the chicken is raw, when you take it out of the fridge, soak it in cold water and 1/4 cup of salt (in a clean sink or basin) for approximately 5 - 10 minutes and then rinse well and pat dry before cooking. This kills any bacteria on the chicken as well as tenderizes the meat and gives it a better taste. You can also do this with chicken pieces.

Answer 2

Difficult to say. It depends on how long it has been since the bird was slaughtered, how it was stored in transit, whether refrigeration both in transit and is storage was at the proper temp, as well as the length of storage and temp at your local store. The key here is to smell the chicken. If it has an odor that is unpleasant (even faintly) consider it spoiled. Don't buy it or eat it. If you bought a fresh chicken, holding it at room temp for over two hours begins to get risky. Again, if in doubt, smell it. In California, restaurants are required to move food that has reached 70F to cold storage or cook it immediately and if not serving immediately hold it at 170F after cooking. Use these guidelines at home, too. Incidentally, fresh meat, poultry and fish has no smell when fresh.

Answer 3

Food left out of the refrigerator is okay to eat for about 2 hours. If the temperature is under 80 degrees. The longer a food stays in the danger zone the more risk you take eating that food. Foods should either be kept hot or kept cold before eating to be really safe.

Answer 4

Chicken either cooked or uncooked should not be kept at room temperature at any point unless for defrosting, even then it is best to to defrost in the fridge. The risk from bacteria of keeping chicken at room temperature is too great and can very easily lead to food poising.

Answer 5

Less than four hours. The general rules of food safety say that if the raw meat is left in room temperature (over 40 degrees Fahrenheit) for four hours or over, it is unsafe.

Answer 6

Well-cooked chicken that has been left covered at room temperature should be eaten within 4 hours.

Answer 7

I think 1 second

Answer 8

About 15-20 minutes