My spouse thinks it’s completely OK to leave the pizza out all night and eat it the following day. Me? Not at all. Pizza should not be left out all night. When it comes to letting pizza stay out for two hours, the fortunate number is two. Keep in the fridge after two hours.

Hello there! My name is Shea, and I am a huge pizza enthusiast. No, honestly, I’ll eat it every day (if anybody wants to contribute to my pizza fund, that would be fantastic). That being said, I wind up with a lot of unfinished pizza boxes, and I’m curious how long they survive sitting out.

If, like my spouse, you believe pizza has an infinite shelf life at room temperature, please continue reading. This article will explain how long pizza may safely sit out and how you can prolong the life of your pizza.

What exactly are we waiting for? Let’s chat about paradise (er, pizza)!

How Long Can Pizza Sit Out?

Many individuals will leave their pizza in the box and come back to it the following morning. Trust me, I like a piece of pizza for morning, and I’m sure many of these individuals didn’t feel ill. Was that, however, the proper thing to do? No, not always.

I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer here. The USDA made the regulations, not me. Perishable items, like pizza, should not be kept at room temperature for more than two hours, according to their website.

Thats because your pizza reaches the danger zone after two hours, and I’m not referring to the Kenny Loggins song, though I am a tremendous fan.

The danger zone denotes temperatures that are conducive to contamination. Pizza gets this temperature after two hours. Worse, the risk of contamination doubles every 20 minutes after the pizza enters the danger zone. Yikes.

Remember that pizza often includes cheese and some form of meat. You wouldn’t leave a block of cheese or your favorite meat (pepperoni, sausage, chicken) on the counter. Don’t even try it with your pizza.

Better Option: Store in the Fridge

You keep (most) items in the fridge to keep them fresher for longer, right? So why should your pizza be any different? While shoving a pizza box into your refrigerator may be annoying, it is nothing compared to the possible pain of a food-borne disease.

Place your pizza in the refrigerator. If you don’t have space for the full pizza box, cover it in tinfoil or keep it in a smaller airtight container. From there, your pizza will be safe and sound for up to four days.

When you’re ready for a slice, just microwave it for around 45 seconds. You may also use the oven or air fryer if you want it to taste like it just came out of the pizza box. The air fryer is my particular favorite since it provides the pizza a fresh, crisp crust and lovely ooey-gooeyness.

Another Option: Store in the Freezer

Now, I’ll be completely honest. Consuming pizza after it has been frozen? Meh. Is it still a possibility? Yup. If you don’t believe you’ll finish your refrigerated pizza slices within five days, chuck them in the freezer.

When utilizing the freezer option, ensure sure the pizza is well covered. The best method is to use tinfoil or an airtight container (or both). Nobody likes a freezer-burned piece of pizza, therefore your aim is to avoid it. Yuck.

When you’re ready to eat the pizza, just remove it from the freezer and cook it according to your preference. I don’t think it’s required to defrost before heating, but you’re free to.

I wouldn’t recommend freezing unless you have a lot of pizza that you don’t want to waste.

What Happens if You Eat Old Pizza

If you leave your pizza on the counter overnight and eat it the following morning, you are unlikely to get ill. But don’t take any chances. Just because something seems implausible doesn’t imply it won’t happen. A foodborne infection might make you extremely unwell.

Some of the symptoms to look out for include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Stomach cramps
• Fever

The majority of these symptoms will develop within 24 hours after eating stale pizza and should subside between 24 to 48 hours. If you are still experiencing symptoms after two days, you should seek medical attention.

FAQs

To avoid foodborne diseases, put your pizza in the refrigerator before it reaches the two-hour mark. Continue reading if you still have questions regarding this subject. You may be interested in the following intriguing, often asked questions.

Can you eat pizza left out for 12 hours?

Can you do it? Sure. Should you do it? Nope. Keep in mind the two-hour guideline. If your pizza has been sitting on the counter for 12 hours, it is just unsafe to eat. It’s best to scrap it and start again.

Will pizza left out overnight make you sick?

Many people will tell you no. And the fact is that you are unlikely to get ill. But it doesn’t imply it can’t happen. If you are unfortunate enough to have a foodborne infection, you will become quite unwell, with vomiting, diarrhea, pains, and other symptoms.

Can pizza give you food poisoning?

Yes, it is possible. The majority of the time, food poisoning is caused by pizza dough that has not been fully baked and contains some tainted raw egg. Less often, listeria may be found in cheese and meats, causing food poisoning.

How can you tell if pizza has gone bad?

The texture of your pizza is the most telling sign that it has gone rotten. The pizza will be hard and dry, similar to the cardboard box it arrived in. It may develop a putrid odor and mold if left out for a lengthy amount of time.

Can I keep pizza in fridge overnight?

Without a doubt! I keep mine in the box it came in, but putting it in an airtight container or tightly wrapping it in foil can prolong its life. I utilize the pizza box since I know I’ll eat the leftovers the following day and don’t need to prepare for three or four days of storage.

Final Words

It’s usual practice to leave the pizza on the counter overnight, but that doesn’t make it safe. From now on, change the way you keep your pizza to lessen the risk of foodborne disease. Remember that pizza requires refrigeration after just two hours of sitting out.

Have you ever left a pizza out overnight and then eaten it the following morning? Did you get ill? How do you currently keep your pizza? Please share your storage solutions and tales with us in the comments section.