Leftover cooked chicken can be safe to eat if it is handled and stored properly. The main risk comes from the “temperature danger zone,” which is between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). In this range, bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli can multiply quickly. Cooked chicken should not sit out for more than 2 hours, or just 1 hour if the surrounding temperature is hot.
Even if the chicken looks or smells fine, it may still contain harmful bacteria or toxins that reheating cannot remove. These bacteria can cause serious foodborne illness, so caution is essential. To keep leftover chicken safe, refrigerate it as soon as possible—ideally within 2 hours of cooking. In hot weather, it is best to refrigerate even sooner to reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
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