Expert: BBQ Woman - 6/2/2010

Question
How Long Can Smoked Chicken,Pork, And Beef Be Left Before Being refrigerate After Being Smoked?

Answer
Hi Stanley,
Meats that are smoked today are smoked for flavor not for preservation. To preserve meat to not require refrigeration takes allot of work and you have to remove all of the moisture and even still I have seen meat such as jerky go bad without refrigeration at some point.
The USDA recommends that cooked food be left out no more than two hours after serving. This changes if the temperature is 90 degrees or above to one hour before requiring refrigeration.
I really hope I answered your question feel free to do a followup if I have not.
Regards,
Misty