Can you eat pizza left out overnight, or should you toss it away to prevent foodborne illnesses?
Pizza comes into the perishable food list that can go bad too quickly, but how quick?
And can you do anything to preserve your pizza leftovers to eat later the next day or next night to cater late night cravings?
People often get confused about pizza leftovers. Also, check that your pizza is not shared by a pet if left out in the cold temperature.
These are some of the questions that occur in mind after ordering3 a large-size pizza (due to feeling too hungry) and later realizing that you ordered a little too much…
Don’t worry! Here we brought you all the details on how long is leftover pizza good for and when can you eat pizza left out overnight.
PS: we have also added some “how to keep pizza fresh” tricks in this content, so it’s going to be a tasty treat for the readers.
Without a pause, here you go!
Can You Eat Pizza Left Out Overnight?
Food cravings at night are for real and late deliveries have no exception. When we order pizzas late at night, the delivery time can make us feel tired, exhausted, and sleepy.
Once it is delivered, we feel filled after having some slices and think too long about what to do with the rest. You think is pizza ok left out overnight because now you are so tired.
Well, in some cases, yes, and in some cases no, confused? Well, TBH, it’s a series of questions that needs answering before letting you know can you eat pizza left out overnight.
- Did you leave the pizza in the sitting area at room temperature?
- Was pizza in the fridge?
- Did it stay on the kitchen shelf overnight?
So, the next day when you wake up and see your pizza these questions occur in your mind before you decide to eat the pizza that was left out.
Answering them will bring you to a conclusion of can you eat pizza left out overnight.
How Many Days is Pizza Good For?
Pizza is among the perishable food list (likely to decay or go bad quickly).
Why is that so?
Many ingredients used in the pizza, like cheese, can go bad too quickly, not just in the taste but overall health-wise. Bacteria like salmonella or Escherichia coli are borne and cause foodborne ailments.
So the answer to the question, how many days is pizza good for, and can you eat pizza left out overnight is based on where you stored it.
At room temperature, pizza has little life, and it can take 2 hours to go bad. However, the pizza is still good if left out overnight in the fridge or refrigerator.
If left on the kitchen shelf, rats, mice, or kitchen insects can contaminate it, making it even worse to eat a leftover pizza.
How Long Does Pizza Last in the Fridge?
Some studies suggest that pizza can last in the fridge for one week or 7 days. On the other hand, some other food experts suggest that 4 days is the period to eat pizza leftovers stored in the fridge.
After this period, the ingredients on the pizza can go stale, making it taste sour and smell a little nasty.
So, you can eat pizza left out overnight if stored in the fridge.
During winters, if the temperature of your room is cold and below 30, you can definitely eat the pizza leftovers even if they were not stored in the fridge.
However, make sure to check that it is not contaminated by insects and rats before you decide can you eat pizza left out overnight.
How Long Does Pizza Last At Room Temperature?
Only two hours! Yes, at room temperature, your pizza can last for 2 hours, and if you leave it for more than that time, food-bearing bacteria can contaminate it.
However, the time period can be more or less based on the room temperature and season.
If you are sitting in the room with AC turned on, and the temperature of the room is quite cold, the pizza can stay for more than 2 hours. The same will be the case for cold rooms in the winter.
On the other hand, during summers, if it is too hot everywhere, the pizza can be contaminated with foodborne bacteria in an hour.
Eating Pizza Left Out Overnight – Health Hazards
Look at the health hazards caused by leftover food items before making a decision, can you eat pizza left out overnight:
1. Foodborne Ailments:
Cheese, eggs, and other food items obtained from animals can carry bacteria and pests. When cooked at a specific temperature, these bacteria get killed.
Related ➔ Are Broiler Eggs Good for Your Health or Not?
However, they can be reborn if the perishable food is kept out for a little longer while. These include salmonella, campylobacter, norovirus, etc.
These can cause occasional diarrhea to severe illnesses that might earn you a trip to the hospital due to foodborne diseases.
2. Contaminated By Insects:
Insects are everywhere in the kitchen, including cockroaches. You might also have some uninvited guests in your kitchen, for instance, rats.
When you leave your food leftovers out on the shelves, these guests can contaminate them. This makes it clear that you shouldn’t be eating food that is left out.
3. Tasted By Pets:
Cats, dogs, or other animals you have at home as pets, can taste your leftover pizzas. No matter how loving you are towards your animals, their saliva on your food can contaminate it.
You can experience salmonella, a kind of diarrhea, by eating the leftover pizza tasted by pets. If your pets are cleaned and washed, they can still be carrying bacteria.
So, can you eat pizza left out overnight? In this case, no!
4. Food Poisoning:
Food poisoning includes a disturbed stomach, vomiting, cramps, nausea, fever, body aches, and fatigue. You might not experience it all.
However, a pizza left out for too long can get you sick.
Can You Eat Pizza Left Out Overnight if You Reheat it?
There is no harm in reheating the pizza if you feel it a little cold while enjoying it. However, reheating the pizza can bring back its taste but not kill the bacteria born inside due to leaving out.
Therefore, if you have left the pizza out overnight without a refrigerator, you should toss it away. On the other hand, if it was stored in the fridge, you can definitely oven it to enjoy.
How to Store Pizza Leftovers for Long Time?
You can eat pizza left out overnight for more than 4 days if stored in the following manner.
- Get parchment, foil, or wax paper and spread it on the dinner table
- Stack your pizza slices on the paper
- Wrap the whole stack in the paper
- Put in the fridge
Now your pizza is stored for a week. However, if you need to store it for more than a week, try putting it in the freezer section. Frozen pizzas last for more than 18 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions occurring in your mind regarding the discussion on can you eat pizza left out overnight:
Can you eat 2-day old pizza not refrigerated?
Unfortunately, no! A pizza sitting out for more than two hours carries bacteria to cause food poisoning and other foodborne ailments.
USDA suggests that overnight stay of leftovers without a fridge is unsafe. Regardless of the ingredients, it is contaminated, and you cannot eat 2-day-old pizza if not refrigerated.
How long is pepperoni pizza good for in the fridge?
Regardless of your favorite flavour, all pizzas can stay safely in the fridge for 4 days to eat and enjoy later. Pizza stored at lower than 40O Fahrenheit is safe to munch on for four days.
How many times can you reheat pizza?
There are no limits to reheating your pizza as many times as you want. However, reheating your reheated pizza more than twice might disturb its taste, but it is safe.
But can you eat pizza left out overnight after reheating? No! It should be tossed away.
Does frozen pizza go bad?
No! A pizza can last up to 18 months if frozen. This is because bacteria or other viruses cannot survive at freezing temperatures.
Therefore, you can eat your stored frozen leftovers for more than a year. USDA suggests that frozen foods can be consumed even after their expiry date.
Why do I feel sick after eating pizza?
Lactose intolerance can be one of the reasons you feel sick after eating pizza. Lactose is a kind of sugar found in dairy products.
So, cheese in your pizza and lower levels of the lactase enzyme can make you experience abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, diarrhea, or nausea.
However, you should see a doctor for better examination and suggestions.
Does pepperoni expire?
Pepperoni, like dry or hard sausages, has a long life but they do get expire and stale. However, if stored in a fridge, you can definitely consume them.
Frozen pepperoni doesn’t get expire but pepperoni pizza can go bad in two hours if not stored in the refrigerator.
Bottom Line
Can you eat pizza left out overnight? No, if left out! Yes, if kept in the fridge, you can eat leftovers for four days. If frozen, you can enjoy your pizza for more than 18 months.
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