Posted: 10/22/2005 8:33:59 PM EDT
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I just ordered a large bacon cheeseburger pizza from Dominos and found out they have a buy one get one free deal tonight, so I took them up on it. Problem is, I don't have any form of refrigeration in my dorm room. Any idea how long these things can be kept at room-temperature before spoiling? |
Good idea... you are taking chances after a few hours at room temperature. You might be ok… but you really don't know what types of bacteria that pizza has been exposed to and a pizza at room temperature is prime breeding condition for bacteria. If the right bug is there It might be safe for 3 hours and then have a enough bacteria at 6 hours to make you sick as hell. |
I'm halfway through the first pie and my stomach's about had it. 
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According to HACCP (hazard analysis critical control points) used in the foodservice industry (FDA) foods kept between the temperatures of 40F and 140F should not remain within this range for more than 4 hours maximum. Room temp is 68F, so you'd be risking a food-borne illness if the pizza is left out overnight. FAT-TOM (fat, acid, time-temperature, oxygen, moisture) will determine what foods and for how long they can remain at room temp. Foods with high acidity will last longer than those with less, while foods with high moisture content will be subject to shorter exposure to the "danger zone" (40-140F), hence dried beef for example will last quite some time vs. fresh. --VT |
Very good, you know your stuff. I was about to pull out my HACCP book to look it up, it's been a little while since I got my certification. |
7 years. |
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roboman, It looks like you might have to "jerkey out" the excess. This might seem weird, but put it by a heat source and let dry until it becomes hard tack. Not only could you snack on it during classes for the next month, you could also provision a small expedition. GM |
Bacteria form toxins that cannot be sterilized away… I don’t know if leaving a pizza out overnight would leave enough of these toxins to do harm but why chance it. |
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When I lived in the dorm I would eat 2 day old pizza and never think twice. Just consume a large enough quantity of booze before hand, that way it will kill any bacteria that may exist when you eat it. Don'y you have an AC unit? I did in my dorm. Just put it on top of that. |