Expert: Chris Manley - 8/6/2008

Question
QUESTION: i made a rice and chicken dish that i accidentally left sitting in a sealed freezer ziplock bag for about 6 hours in an air conditioned room. do you think it is okay to eat? thanks

ANSWER: If it has been left at room temperature for more than 4 hours it can no longer be considered safe to eat.

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QUESTION: what if i just heat it up excessively, still not safe to eat?
thanks

Answer
In 4 hours time bacteria could have formed a heat stable toxin that cooking will not destroy, it really all depends on what temperature the food was when it was put in the bag and what it is after 6 hours, more than likely it should be considered unsafe.