Is cashew chicken that got left out for about 5 hours still good?!
Answers: We didn't eat it. I left it out for my husband, who was late. We had to leave for a basketball game. He never saw it and therefor when we got home from the game it still was sitting on the table. Is it still good or do we need to throw it out. (I stuck in the fridge last night- just in case)
No it isnt ok. Their is something called the temperature danger zone, which is 41 - 140 degress. Anything parishable left in that temperature range for 4 hours is not deemed safe. When something is in that temperature range for that length of time bacteria can rapidly grow causing a food born illness. Poultry is one that can become particuarly worse. You could potential eat it and be safe if you reheat it beyond 165 degrees, but I wouldn't recomend it.
I believe 2 hours is the rule of thumb. If any perishable item has been left out that long you should toss it out.
It will be alright, unless it was exceptionally hot inside the house.
Make sure you reheat it thoroughly before consumption
It depends, is it green...
I personally would not eat it the more hours you leave out at room temperature the more the bacteria multiply in your food in their thousands, food is only to be left out of temp for a maximum of 3 hours.
i would say no.... just to be safe... you dont want your kids to get sick.
No...bacteria start growing like crazy after less than 2 hours. Throw it!
4 hours to grow salmonella.
Then there is the chilling time.
2 hours is probably a good rule- get it chilling as fast as you can is how the pros do it.
When in doubt... Throw it out!
Its really up to you. The food is cooked already, but it depends on how sensitive your stomachs are. And if it will make you paranoid hours after eating it, dont torture yourself.. just dont eat it.