Question hub · 269 answers
Left out overnight
Left the chicken, rice or milk out overnight? The USDA 2-hour rule applied to 269 perishable foods, A–Z, with what to do next.
The rule is the same for every food here: perishable food is safe at room temperature for 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Overnight is always too long. Each page explains why for that food and how long it keeps once refrigerated.
A
B
- Baby food dinners left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Baby food fruit left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Baby food jars and pouches left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Baby food vegetables left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bacon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Beef broth left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Beef short ribs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Beef stew meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Beef tongue left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bison left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bluefish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boiled peanuts left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in chicken breast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in pork chops left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in pork loin roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in rib roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in turkey breast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bone-in veal loin roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless canned ham (refrigerated) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless leg of lamb left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless picnic ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless pork loin roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless rib roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless turkey breast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless veal leg roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Boneless veal shoulder roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Bratwurst left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Breast milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Brie left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Brisket left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Brisket and chuck roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Buttermilk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
C
- Canadian bacon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Canadian bacon (whole) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Canned biscuit and pizza dough left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Capon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Casseroles left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Catfish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Caviar left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken broth left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken in gravy left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken legs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken liver pâté left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken nuggets left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken patties left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken salad left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chicken thighs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chitterlings left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Chuck roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cinnamon rolls (tube) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Clams left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Coconut milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cod left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cod and lean white fish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Coleslaw left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked chicken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked chorizo left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked fish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked lobster tails left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked pasta left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked quinoa left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked rice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cooked shellfish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cookie dough left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Corned beef left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cornish hens left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cottage cheese left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Country ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Crab legs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Crayfish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cream cheese left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Cut fruit left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
D
E
F
- Flounder left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh apple juice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh boneless picnic ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh carrot juice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh chorizo left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh clams and mussels left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh crab meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh half ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh ham shank left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh lemon juice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh pasta left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh pork butt roll left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh salsa left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh whole ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Fried chicken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Frozen whole lobster left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
G
- Giblets left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Goat cheese left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Goat meat (whole cuts) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Goat stew meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Goose left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground beef left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground bison left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground goat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground lamb left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground pork left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground turkey left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ground veal left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Guacamole left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
H
- Haddock left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Half and half left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Half beef tenderloin left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Half cooked ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Halibut left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ham salad left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Hard-boiled eggs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Heavy cream left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade broth left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade cranberry sauce left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade hummus left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade kugel left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade salad dressing left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade salsa left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade vegetable juice left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade vegetable soup left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Homemade vinaigrette left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Hot dogs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Hot-smoked fish (air pack) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Hot-smoked fish (vacuum pack) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Hummus left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
I
K
L
- Lactose-free milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb chops left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb crown roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb kabob cubes left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb leg steaks left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb shanks left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb shoulder roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Lamb stew meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Large bone-in leg of lamb left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Large pork crown roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Leftovers with meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Leftovers without meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Light cream left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Liquid baby formula left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Liquid coffee creamer left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Liquid egg substitute left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Live clams, mussels and oysters left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Live lobster left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Liver left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
M
- Mackerel left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Mashed potatoes left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Meat in gravy left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Meat pâté left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Miso left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Mullet left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Mung bean sprouts left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Mussels left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
N
O
P
- Packaged lunch meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pasta salad left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pasteurized crab meat left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pastrami left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pâté left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pepperoni left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pheasant left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pickled herring left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pie crust (ready-to-bake) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pimento cheese left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pizza left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pollock left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pollock and rockfish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork chops left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork loin cubes left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork medallions left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork ribs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork roll left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork shoulder left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pork tenderloin left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Potato salad left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Prepared meals left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Prosciutto left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Pudding left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Puff pastry left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
Q
R
- Rabbit left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Raw beef kabobs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Raw chicken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Raw chicken kabobs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Raw egg whites and yolks left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Raw sausage left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Refried beans left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Refrigerated biscuits left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Refrigerated canned ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Refrigerated pie crust left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Reused frying oil left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Rice milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Ricotta left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Rockfish left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Rolled lamb breast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Rotisserie chicken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Round roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
S
- Salami left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Salmon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Scallops left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Sea trout left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Shrimp left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Shucked oysters, clams and mussels left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Small bone-in leg of lamb left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Small pork crown roast left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Smoked bratwurst left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Smoked salmon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Smoked salmon (air pack) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Snow crab legs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Soft cheese left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Sole left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Soup left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Sour cream left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Sour cream dip left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Soy milk left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Spiral ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Squid left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Steak left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Stew left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Stuffed chicken breasts left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Stuffed pork chops left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
T
- Tofu left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Tuna salad left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Tuna steaks left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Turducken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Turkey bacon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Turkey legs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Turkey thighs left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
U
- Uncooked boneless leg ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncooked half leg ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncooked smoked chorizo left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncooked whole leg ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncured bacon left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncured cooked ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Uncured fresh ham left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
V
W
- Whipped cream (aerosol can) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whipped cream (homemade, sweetened) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whipped topping (aerosol can) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whipped topping (tub) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whipping cream left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whole beef tenderloin left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whole cooked ham (bone-in) left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whole raw chicken left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
- Whole turkey left out overnightDiscard after 2 h
Y
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Numbers on this page come from USDA FoodKeeper and FSIS guidance. Last verified November 2026. How we verify our data · Report a wrong number