How Long Would You Leave Curry At Room Temperature..

[bluefortress]

Sorry for the very basic question but all my life I have been somewhat guessing

If you order a takeaway curry (chicken curry for arguments sake), how many hours can it be left out on the table (unrefrigerated) before its unsafe to eat..

[barry1010]

I grew up without a fridge so don't worry about this sort of thing, as long as it's covered and properly hot when served

[New Judge]

But why would you do that?

Surrely if you order a takeaway you presumably are ready to eat it. Why would you get it and tthen leave it to fester until it gets cold?

[Canary42]

At least 24 hours I would have thought, but who wants to eat cold takeaway?  Yuk!

[scorpiojo]

No more than two hours.

[bluefortress]

New Judge - a few reasons its for a buffet really, to go with some snacks on the table for people to eat when ready.  Also some people like to eat a bit at a time ie have some at 7pm then some more at 10pm

[Lie-in King]

I've had a takeaway curry, woken up in the morning (I was tired & emotional, ok) & finished it off.  I'm still here.

Doesn't mean it's to be recommended.

[Patsy33]

Just do half for first hour or so, then if popular, then warm other half up for later.

[Canary42]

P.S. It's the meat component which worries me a bit - to be safe I would give it a substantial blast in the microwave.  That is however based on personal experience, not scientific facts (but I'm in my ninetieth decade😁)

[Canary42]

I'm a bit like L-I-K here, although I've survived it, that doesn't validate it entirely.

[bhg481]

Im hoping Canary is in his NINTH decade, not his NINTIETH, otherwise we have a new world record here. (I can't remember exactly how old Methusula thought he was).

[Canary42]

Oh dear, wrong degree of magnitude !   It is indeed Ninth decade (I'm no devil).

[bluefortress]

Thanks all ^

[alimuzzaman]

It is recommended to not leave curry at room temperature for more than 2 hours. This guideline applies to most cooked foods, including curries, as they can become breeding grounds for bacteria after this time, especially if the room temperature is above 40°F (4°C).

Here’s why:

Bacteria Growth: At room temperature, bacteria multiply rapidly, and the danger zone for food safety is between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). Leaving curry out for too long increases the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Safe Storage: If you don’t plan to eat the curry within 2 hours, you should refrigerate it as soon as possible to keep it safe.

What to Do:

After Cooking: Allow the curry to cool down slightly (but not for long) and then refrigerate it promptly.

Reheating: When 😁 curry, make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it's safe to eat.

If you accidentally leave curry out longer than 2 hours, it’s best to discard it to avoid any potential health risks.

[Tilly2]

Are you having rice with it? That's another issue. Rice can be very dodgy.