What Are the Dangers of Leaving Out Cooked Meat Overnight?

You wake up in the morning and realize you forgot to put the leftover meat in the fridge before you went to bed last night. The meat wasn't raw, but it looks fine, smells fine, and tastes fine, so eating it should be fine, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way. Eating meat that was left out overnight can significantly increase your risk of developing food poisoning. Here’s everything you need to know.

Bacteria in Cooked Meat

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes that there are two types of bacteria: pathogenic bacteria and spoilage bacteria. Spoilage bacteria cause the food to smell and taste funny, but consuming foods with it won’t harm you. Pathogenic bacteria, however, don’t usually affect the taste or smell of food, but are harmful and can lead to foodborne illnesses. The reason pathogenic bacteria are especially harmful is that you can’t tell that a pathogen (germs that can cause illness) is present, since there are no physical changes in the food.

Some common pathogenic bacteria that can cause food-related illnesses include Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The USDA explains that pathogenic bacteria thrive between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Room temperature usually falls in this temperature range, which the USDA calls the “danger zone.” In this temperature range, pathogenic bacteria can sometimes double in number within a span of 20 minutes.

If bacteria can double in just 20 minutes, imagine the numbers if the meat has been left out overnight. According to the USDA, any food that has been left out at room temperature for over two hours should be discarded. If the temperature in the room is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the window is one hour.

Since pathogenic bacteria don't affect the taste, smell, or sight of food in any way, you have no way of knowing whether they're there. You may feel bad about throwing away meat that looks perfectly fine, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

In order to be considered safe for consumption, the USDA explains, meats like beef, pork, and lamb need to be cooked to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Ground meat needs to reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and poultry should be cooked at no less than 165 degrees Fahrenheit. And if you're not eating the meat right away, you need to store it in the refrigerator at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Happens If You Eat Contaminated Meat?

Consuming pathogenic bacteria can lead to foodborne illnesses. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are about 48 million cases of food-related illnesses each year linked to contaminated meat, poultry, produce, or dairy products.

If you develop food poisoning, it can help you recognize what you’re experiencing by understanding the symptoms. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, stomach pain, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and vomiting. If you eat contaminated meat, symptoms can appear within a few hours to a few days. Everyone’s bodies are different, so how long it takes you to recover can also vary.

However, if you notice new or worsening symptoms, it’s a good idea to contact your healthcare provider. According to the CDC, you should seek medical support if you have bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts several days, have a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, or have any signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth or not peeing much.

How to Feel Better

While getting food poisoning is an uncomfortable experience, fortunately, there are several things you can do to feel better. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) recommends replenishing lost fluids (from the vomiting and/or diarrhea) by drinking water, sports drinks, or broths. To treat diarrhea specifically, you can also try over-the-counter medications like loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). But if you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.

You should also check in with your provider if your symptoms are severe, not improving, or lasting several days. They may be able to prescribe antibiotics or other treatments to keep symptoms at bay and get you back on your feet.