How Long Can Eggs Stay in the Refrigerator
Sometimes our nutrient falls victim to our forgetfulness. We go sucked into a Harry Potter marathon on Boob tube and end up leaving our leftovers on the tabular array for hours. Or perhaps we forget to put away the cheese tray later our guests left our cocktail party. But foods can be left at room temp for a while, correct? How damaging tin can the mild air really be? To help you salve yourself from stale snacks or food poisoning, here's your room temperature food guide.
Mutual sense is really important in regard to determining if nutrient is still safe to swallow. If yous left that tub of yogurt on the counter for more than a few hours, toss it. And if you forgot y'all pulled craven out of the freezer to thaw in the fridge three days ago, sayonara. Seriously — if you lot haveany doubts about whether or non a nutrient item is A-OK to ingest, you're better off calling information technology quits before yous practice your stomach in.
Still, for some foods, "how long is too long?" is a valid question, and yous may be surprised to learn that raw foods and cooked foods take virtually the same life span in a room temperature environment. If y'all're as forgetful every bit we are, we recommend that y'all bookmark this guide for your future forgetful self.
Vegetables
Depending on the veggie, most can stay on the counter until apply (or until overripe).
According to Fruits & Veggies More Matters, many vegetables like basil, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and squashes, shouldonly be kept at room temperature. Storing these vegetables in the refrigerator could hinder ripening and brand them lose their flavor.
However, vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, dark-green beans, carrots, herbs (except for basil), leafy greens, mushrooms, and peas should always be refrigerated to maintain freshness. Don't swallow anything that has mold, is leaking, or smells like it's rotting. If information technology looks soft or soggy, feel information technology out — the veggie may be okay for a soup, but maybe not so much a salad. Information technology really depends on the vegetable, but most stay fresh for at least a calendar week if stored in the refrigerator.
Fruit
Like veggies, certain fruits can remain at room temperature until apply.
Fruits should have time to ripen at room temperature before being refrigerated to prolong their life. Apricots, avocados, citruses, kiwifruit, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pears, plums, tomatoes, should all stay on the counter to fully ripen. In terms of freshness, the same rules as veggies applies to fruits. Soft apples? Plough 'em into applesauce. Dark-brown bananas? Make banana breadstuff!
Eggs
Freshly laid eggs tin stay at room temperature for virtually a month.
However, if yous buy your eggs from the refrigerator section at the grocery store, you must continue your eggs refrigerated from there on out. Those who raise their own chickens can keepunwashed subcontract-fresh eggs on the counter until use (within a couple of weeks). One time eggs are washed, the protective "flower" layer, which seals the egg's pores and prevents bacteria from inbound through the shell, is removed. Washed eggs, similar those at the supermarket, must remain cooled in social club to keep bacteria at bay.
And if y'all forget to put your eggs back in the refrigerator and y'all observe "sweat" start to course on the shells, these eggs are technically unsafe to swallow. If you haven't used eggs v weeks after buy engagement, you should throw them away, simply egg cartons generally have an expiration date on them.
Meat
Both raw and cooked meat should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends following the "2-hour rule" for meats and other perishable items. The warmer the room, even so, the less fourth dimension meat should exist left out. Bacteria doesn't need long to spread over a surface and grows best at temperatures between xl degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. And no, cooking or reheating meat that has been left out for over two hours does not kill the leaner. Don't adventure food poisoning — keep your meats cooled in the refrigerator.
According to Foodsafety.gov, cooked meat stays fresh for nigh 3-4 days if it's refrigerated.
Cheese/Dairy Products
Similarly, cheeses, milk, and other dairy-based products also follow the 2-hour rule.
Although you should try non to go along your cheese platters out at room temperature for more than than 2 hours, Dairy Adept notes that the moisture content in some cheeses requite them more leeway than others. Moister cheeses, those being soft, unripened or ripened cheeses, are more perishable than cheeses made with pasteurized milk. And if your cheese platter was out up until the two hour mark, discard your soft cheeses but rewrap your hard cheeses and air-condition to serve once again.
Go along in mind, dairy-based foods such as dips, spreads, and annihilation containing milk or cream should not be left out for more than than two hours. Cheese is a sturdy food, and some (the harder cheeses, generally) tin exist kept in the refrigerator for months.
Butter
Butter can exist left out for a few days, or a few weeks depending on the container.
Leaving butter on the counter and exposed to air will get out your butter spreadable, however, it will about go rancid inside a few days. Only, if you have an appropriate butter crock or air-tight glass container, you lot can keep your butter at room temperature for well-nigh two weeks. Don't feel scared to leave your butter out on the counter. Its fat content (80 percent) keeps it safe from bacteria.
Condiments
Acidic condiments can be left out for ane to two months. Fermented condiments can last a year.
Mustards like xanthous and dijon can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 months, as long as it doesn't contain vegetables. And ketchup can remain on the counter for about month. Soy sauce lasts for about a year unrefrigerated, as does fish sauce. And hot sauce stays good at room temp for well-nigh iii years. Whatsoever dairy or vegetable-based condiments follow the "2-hour rule."
Broiled Goods
Staff of life products can last up to four days, cakes upwardly to two, and and cookies up to three weeks. (It also actually depends on the ingredients and how processed your broiled appurtenances are. The more candy ingredients, the longer your staff of life and broiled goods tin last — they but might taste stale.)
Broiled goods containing custards, meats or vegetables, and dairy-based frostings cannot be left out on the counter and must be refrigerated. However, more hearty items like breads, rolls, and items made from mixes can stay out at room temperature for up to four days. Moister baker goods like sponge cakes, pastries, and angel food cakes volition last upward to 2 days on the counter.
If yous need a handy guide, download or impress this out and tape it to your fridge!
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Source: https://soyummy.com/guide-long-food-can-left-room-temp/