Can you eat 2 day old pizza not refrigerated

Some foods can be left out in room temperature for periods of time and still be safe to eat without the risk for foodborne illness or food poisoning. While pizza should be refrigerated, whether or not it's cooked, leaving it out in room temperature for short periods of time is generally okay.

Is Pizza Safe to Leave Out?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), perishable food, including pizza, is not safe to eat if you've left it sitting out in room temperature overnight. This holds true even if your pizza doesn't have any meat products on it, the USDA notes. Cheese, a main ingredient in most pizzas, should be kept in the refrigerator to reduce the risk of being contaminated with foodborne bacteria.

How Long Can Pizza Sit in Room Temperature?

Just because pizza sits out for an hour or two doesn't mean you have to throw it away. Pizza can be left in room temperature for up to two hours -- or one hour in hot temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- and still be safe to eat, according to the USDA. However, after this short period of time the pizza should be cooled to a temperature of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder to reduce the risk for foodborne bacteria to grow, the USDA notes.

How Long Should You Keep Leftover Pizza?

If you're keeping leftover pizza in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, it's okay to keep the pizza for three to four days, according to the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While you might not get sick from eating pizza that's more than four days old, you'll increase your risk for foodborne illness by doing so. Throw away any pizza that's been sitting out in room temperature for more than two hours. The FDA notes that if you keep leftover pizza in the freezer instead of the fridge, it's safe to keep it for one to two months.

Can you eat 2 day old pizza not refrigerated


An experienced health, nutrition and fitness writer, Erin Coleman is a registered and licensed dietitian and holds a dietetics degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also has worked as a clinical dietitian and health educator in outpatient settings. Erin's work is published on popular health websites, such as TheNest.com and JillianMichaels.com.

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Okay, check your Food Safety guidelines at the door, because things are about to get real subjective in here.

It's late at night, and you've just stuffed yourself to the gills with that large pizza that you ordered—for one. Yeah, maybe it was a little gluttonous on your part, but you've got a plan: refrigerate the leftover slices, then heat them up and enjoy them anew for lunch the next day. (Or don't... heat them up, that is.)

Can you eat 2 day old pizza not refrigerated

Image by jeffreyw/Flickr

But before you throw those slices in a plastic resealable bag (or, if you're lazy like me, just put the whole damn pizza box into the fridge)—you may be shocked to hear that the best way to enjoy your pie the next day is to forego this step altogether.

According to Adina Steinman of Epicurious, the best way to eat leftover pizza is to not refrigerate it at all. And don't just leave it out of the fridge: eat it at room temperature, without reheating.

Wait, what?

She claims that the crust stays crispy and the higher temperature keeps the grease from congealing—and that keeping it out saves the step of reheating your pizza. But what about your slices becoming a ripe harvesting ground for bacteria? Well, apparently her cousins never suffered any kind of food-borne illness from eating un-refrigerated pizza slices, although she stresses that this is anecdotal and to only give this shortcut a try "if you feel your own stomach is similarly iron-clad."

Can you eat 2 day old pizza not refrigerated

Image by Peter O'Connor/Flickr

I won't lie—I've been desperate enough to eat room temperature pizza the next day, but it was only after a particularly reckless night out, and it wasn't pretty. I did lose some respect for myself... but hey, I didn't get sick, so I can't totally dismiss this idea.

Check out the original article here, and let us know in the comments whether you've given this 'tip' a try or if you think it's utterly disgusting.

More About Our Favorite Pie:

  • How to Grill Pizza Like a Pro
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  • Everything You Need to Know About Everyone's Favorite Food—Pizza
  • How to Make Pizza Dough with Only Two Ingredients & Why It Works

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Can I eat pizza that was left out for 2 days?

The United States Department of Agriculture advises you not to let cooked food - like pizza or other kinds of takeout - sit at room temperature for more than two hours before throwing it away.

Can I eat a pizza that was left out overnight?

The USDA recommends throwing away any perishable food (including leftover pizza) that has stayed more than 2 hours under room temperature. Eating pizza that was left out overnight can cause foodborne diseases. The foodborne bacteria grow and thrive under temperatures between 40˚F and 140˚ F.

How long can pizza sit out before it goes bad?

The USDA recommends not letting prepared food, such as pizza, stay at room temperature for over two hours. If your pizza has been sitting out for 24 to 48 hours, it needs to be discarded. You do not want new bacteria to grow on your pizza. It is best to cook your pizza or put it away before it goes bad.