Is My Food Still Safe? Left-Out & Leftovers Checker
Quick Answer
Perishable food is safe at room temperature for 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's 90°F32°C or hotter — after that, throw it out. In the fridge, most cooked leftovers keep 3–4 days, raw chicken and ground meat 1–2 days, and raw steaks, chops and roasts 3–5 days.
Is My Food Still Safe?
Answer two or three questions for a straight answer based on USDA food safety rules.
Only 30 min left before the 2-hour limit. Get it into the fridge now.
Time is cumulative: add up every stretch it spent out of the fridge, including the drive home.
How the Checker Decides
Left out: perishable food follows the USDA's 2-hour rule — 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour when it's 90°F32°C or hotter. The clock pauses only while food stays hot (140°F60°C or above) or cold (40°F4°C or below). Foods like bread, whole fruit, butter, hard aged cheese and acidic condiments aren't subject to the rule. The full list and the reasoning are in how long food can sit out.
In the fridge: each food has a USDA storage window — for example 3–4 days for cooked leftovers and 1–2 days for raw chicken. The checker shows a warning on the last days of that window and a "throw it out" once it has passed. See the full charts for leftovers and raw meat.
Why Reheating Doesn't Rescue Food Left Out
Cooking kills most bacteria, but some — Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus (the rice bacterium) — release toxins while they grow, and those toxins survive boiling. That's why food left out too long goes in the trash, not back in the microwave. When you do reheat leftovers that were stored safely, bring them to 165°F74°C; see reheating leftovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can cooked food sit out?
Cooked perishable food can sit out for 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour if the air is 90°F32°C or hotter, such as at a summer cookout. After that it should be thrown out, even if it looks and smells fine.
Can I reheat food that was left out overnight?
No. Food left out overnight has been in the danger zone (40–140°F4–60°C) far longer than 2 hours. Some bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, produce toxins that reheating does not destroy, so throw it out.
How long are leftovers good in the fridge?
Most cooked leftovers — meat, poultry, soups, stews and pizza — are good for 3–4 days in a fridge at 40°F4°C or colder. Cooked rice and pasta keep 3–5 days, and hard-boiled eggs about a week. Freeze anything you won't eat in time.
Does the 2-hour rule reset if I put food back in the fridge?
No. The time is cumulative. Food that sat out for 90 minutes, went into the fridge, and came back out has about 30 minutes left, not a fresh 2 hours.
Can I tell if food is unsafe by smelling it?
Not reliably. The bacteria that cause food poisoning usually don't change how food looks, smells or tastes. Spoilage bacteria do, but food can smell fine and still make you sick. Go by time and temperature.