Unless the cooked chicken is kept warm, above 140°F, the general rule of thumb for cooked chicken is that it should not sit out on your kitchen table or buffet for more than two hours. Any cooked chicken left at room temperature for more than two hours should probably be thrown out.
KFC chicken has a shelf life of around 2 hours at room temperature. If stored properly in the refrigerator, it can last up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 4 months for best taste and quality.
It is best to reheat KFC once and doing within a day of purchasing it. Leaving it outside at room temperature or even for a long time in the fridge can create bacteria and give you food poisoning.
Chicken should be consumed within 3-4 days of being stored in the fridge. If you plan to keep KFC food leftovers for more than four days or later date, then freeze them in the freezer right away.
Myth: You shouldn't put hot foods in the refrigerator.
If you leave food out to cool and forget about it after 2 hours, throw it away. Bacteria can grow rapidly on food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Reheating food may not make it safe. If food is left out too long, some bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus (staph), can form a heat-resistant toxin that cooking can't destroy.
How Long Can Raw Chicken Sit Out? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), raw chicken should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. If the temperature in the room is above 90°F (32°C), then the time limit decreases to just one hour.
The Two-Hour Rule
Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away. This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products."
The best plan is to put leftovers in the refrigerator right after your meal. Food that is sitting out for a party or picnic should be chilled after two hours at typical room temperature. If it's above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or more, food should not sit out for more than one hour.
To maximize the shelf life of fried chicken for safety and quality, refrigerate the chicken in shallow airtight containers or wrap tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Properly stored, fried chicken will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
It should be safe enough to eat if it has been out in the temperature range of from about 6 Celsius to 60 Celsius, up to around four hours or so. After that, it would be wise to throw it out.
According to the USDA, cooked chicken will last three to four days in the refrigerator, and two to three months in the freezer. Eating cooked chicken after this point can result in foodborne illness — even at refrigerated temperatures, bacteria can still grow.
Cooked chicken can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours, but it is best to consume it within the first hour to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. To extend its shelf life, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 to 4 days.
Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 ° and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone." That's why the Meat and Poultry Hotline advises consumers to never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours.
Registered dietitian Fawziah Saleh, MS, RDN, LD, says that's not a good idea. “Perishable foods like pizza are not safe to eat if left sitting out in room temperature overnight.”
How Long Can Food Sit Out? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.
Leaving food out too long at room temperature can cause bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter) to grow to dangerous levels that can cause illness.
Bacteria multiply rapidly between 40 and 140 degrees. Bacteria will not multiply but may start to die between 140 and 165 degrees. Bacteria will die at temperatures above 212 degrees.
If a perishable food (such as meat or poultry) has been left out at room temperature overnight (more than two hours) it may not be safe. Discard it, even though it may look and smell good. Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled.
There is no set time limit on how long poultry can be left out at room temperature, but as a general rule, you shouldn't leave raw meat out for more than four hours. If you've forgotten to cover your chicken, however, and it's sitting out overnight, the USDA recommends throwing it out.
Eating curry kept for long hours after cooking may cause food poisoning due to bacterium called Welch bacillus. In addition to curry, food cooked using a large pan, such as stew and nikujaga (stewed meat and potatoes), may cause food poisoning in many cases.
Generally, it's best to put hot food and leftovers into the fridge within two hours of being cooked. After this time, bacteria can start to grow and transform your delicious meal into a bout of food poisoning waiting to happen.
Quickly transfer the food to an airtight box once cooled. Reheat all food within 24 – 48 hours. It is maximum time you should allow and will vary between different foods. The best way is to warm the chicken in the oven at a low temperature, allowing it to heat slowly and evenly.
If you eat fried chicken that has been sitting out for more than 2 hours, it could lead to foodborne diseases. Generally, the bacteria in the chicken multiply with time if you keep it between 40° F and 140° F temperature. So, leave the fried chicken in the refrigerator until you are eating it.