Is Pasta Left Out Overnight Safe To Eat?

Eating pasta left out overnight is not a good idea. Pasta left out that long at temperatures under 40°F will likely have dangerous levels of bacteria growth that can cause food poisoning.

When one of your kids is away at college you sometimes get some pretty random questions when you're least expecting it.

The other day I was in the kitchen brewing up my morning coffee when I received this text from my daughter:

So me and my roommates made dinner last night and forgot to put the leftovers in the fridge. Is pasta left out overnight safe to eat or do we have to throw it out?

So me and my roommates made spaghetti for dinner last night and forgot to put the leftovers in the fridge. Is pasta left out overnight safe to eat or do we have to throw it out?

No one hates wasting food more than I do. But food poisoning is a lot worse than food waste, so I advised my daughter to toss her leftovers in the trash.

Here's why...

Why Is Pasta Left Out Overnight Dangerous?

It all comes down to our humble friend the bacteria.

Bacteria are microscopic, one-celled organisms that are found virtually everywhere on Earth. They can only be seen with a microscope, but despite their small size they can make you very sick.

According to the U.S. Department of agriculture, bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40° and 140°F, doubling in number in as little as twenty minutes. This range of temperatures is often called the "Danger Zone." That's why the Meat and Poultry Hotline advises consumers to never leave food out of refrigeration over two hours. If the temperature is above 90°F, food should not be left out for more than one hour.

So unless you keep your house below 40°F or above 140°F (and if you do you've got more important problems to worry about) that pasta left out overnight should go right in the trash.

How To Tell If Pasta Has Gone Bad

If you're not sure whether or not your leftover pasta is safe to eat, here are some signs to look out for:

• Unpleasant Odor - Cooked pasta that has gone bad may start to smell. Give it a whiff and if smells off dump it.
• Color - Is the pasta starting to look discolored or almost white in color? This could mean it has started to spoil.
• Mold - If there's any sign of mold at all that's a sure sign the pasta is no longer safe to eat.
• Texture - Squeeze a piece of leftover pasta to test the texture. It should be firm and slightly tender. If it's mushy or slimy don't taste it.
• Taste - Even if pasta passes all the tests above, if it tastes strange or off it's best to be cautious and not eat it.

Of course, you should also follow the two hour rule. If perishable food has sit out at room temperature for two hours you should throw it out rather than risk food poisoning.

Will you definitely get sick if you eat pasta that was left out for three hours? No. But the risk of food poisoning grows the longer it sits in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F.

Remember, bacteria can double in number every twenty minutes. Just ONE bacterium, doubling every twenty minutes, can grow to over 2,097,152 bacteria in seven hours!

Will Reheating Food Kill Bacteria?

There's a common misconception that spoiled food can be "saved" by reheating in the microwave or oven.

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Many bacteria, including staphylococcus (staph) and Bacillus cereus, produce toxins not destroyed by high cooking temperatures. So you can cook them all you want but you'll never make them safe to eat.