How long has that pizza sat on the counter?

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It that pizza still good?

  • Over 2 hours, toss it

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    13
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chef k-dude

Master of the Pit
Original poster
Mar 11, 2015
1,155
1,059
Central Virginia
Depending on who it is, some people get freaked out if pizza hasn't gotten in to the fridge within that ubiquitous 2 hour time frame you will find on almost every web search. Others have gotten up the next day and eat the pizza that was on the counter all night and never got sick.

What I like to do is when I'm in town for other errands, I'll pick up a pie (especially right now while Domino's is selling $10 large, up to 7 toppings of your choice pies. I never pay full price for Domino's pizza, it's not worth their regular price) and bring it home for dinner later. I have a couple of pizza stones and reheating is easy to do well.

I was always waffling on whether to put it in the fridge or will it be OK 4 hours later at room temp. I knew there had to be a deeper answer than the 2 hour mantra everybody is regurgitating out there. I found it. Turns out it's likely perfectly safe for many hours, even overnight with a few caveats. Plus properly reheating kills many bacteria and in addition, its pizza thats been fondled that really grows bacteria. When someone grabs the slice next to the one they are going for to separate them. Hands introduce more bacteria than simply elapsing time.

This article finally addresses the deeper question. There is a video at the lower left too.

So, are you a cowboy..."aint skeered"? Or totally freaked out by the idea of pizza that has sat for hours. I've known people who will throw leftovers away that are in the fridge for only two days. To each their own, but thats not us.
 
Some of the things i did when i was younger, eat pizza so dried out yoo had to cut the crust off, i swear there was mould. Never got sick once. But I used to eat dirt as a child also. Not paste or crayons though, there is a line.

Corey
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Brokenhandle
Yea.. My brother leaves it in the oven (no heat) overnight... eats the next day... We throw ours in the fridge when done eating...
Growing up there was a family that we were all close to. The wife made the absolute best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. She always cut up two birds to fry so there were leftovers. Us kids snacked on that during the week. Funny thing was she would always store the fried chicken in the oven. We ate leftover room temp. When my father asked her why she did that, she simply said the oven is sterile and it’s safe. All I know is we ate that chicken over the years and no body ever got sick.
 
Only time I have leftover pizza is when I plan it and buy / make extra . I do go into the fridge with it , but not a worry for me either way . Lived a long time without and internal temp / 40 to 140 works itself out if you know how to cook .
 
One place nearby I buy a medium so I'll have enough for breakfast the next morning. Another place a little further away only need to buy a small to get leftovers.
Always leave it in the box next to my PC so it's easy to get to.
Don't need no stinkin' fridge for simple overnite storage.
 
Here in lower NY I can't believe Domino's, Papa John's even exist. There are so many pizza places owned by Brooklyn transplants that make incredible pies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DougE
Depending on who it is, some people get freaked out if pizza hasn't gotten in to the fridge within that ubiquitous 2 hour time frame you will find on almost every web search. Others have gotten up the next day and eat the pizza that was on the counter all night and never got sick.

What I like to do is when I'm in town for other errands, I'll pick up a pie (especially right now while Domino's is selling $10 large, up to 7 toppings of your choice pies. I never pay full price for Domino's pizza, it's not worth their regular price) and bring it home for dinner later. I have a couple of pizza stones and reheating is easy to do well.

I was always waffling on whether to put it in the fridge or will it be OK 4 hours later at room temp. I knew there had to be a deeper answer than the 2 hour mantra everybody is regurgitating out there. I found it. Turns out it's likely perfectly safe for many hours, even overnight with a few caveats. Plus properly reheating kills many bacteria and in addition, its pizza thats been fondled that really grows bacteria. When someone grabs the slice next to the one they are going for to separate them. Hands introduce more bacteria than simply elapsing time.

This article finally addresses the deeper question. There is a video at the lower left too.

So, are you a cowboy..."aint skeered"? Or totally freaked out by the idea of pizza that has sat for hours. I've known people who will throw leftovers away that are in the fridge for only two days. To each their own, but thats not us.
I would eat a piece off the sidewalk 😂
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Brokenhandle
Here in lower NY I can't believe Domino's, Papa John's even exist. There are so many pizza places owned by Brooklyn transplants that make incredible pies.
You know the pizza is going to be fantastic if the guy making it can barely speak English, and grunts at you more than anything while taking the order.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: clifish
I’ve had pizza in Colorado many times that was flown back from NY was never refrigerated and checked in to baggage didn’t get to eat it until a day or two after they brought it back. Never a problem.
 
Here in lower NY I can't believe Domino's, Papa John's even exist. There are so many pizza places owned by Brooklyn transplants that make incredible pies.
We've got Dominos a few times for kids birthday parties and what not. I always tell people we got the pizza from Di'Minos 🤣
 
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