AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question I a huge pot of chicken noodle soup and left it out overnight with the lid on. Is is safe if I were to boil it for a certain amount of time??
Answer HI Robin,
You are not going to like my answer...
There is no way to know if your chicken noodle soup is safe to eat or not. All we know is that you've given it the ideal conditions for bacteria to grow (room temperature). The food will not taste differently, smell differently or look different -- and it could still make you ill.
Unfortunately, some bacteria produce a toxin that is not deactivated by heat. So boiling it for a certain amount of time would not make it safe.
Sorry...the recommendation is to not consume the food.
