# Left pizza on counter overnight? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410 "2017-11-22T16:02:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/1 "2017-11-22T16:02:44Z")
In what I hope was not a sign of declining mental faculties, I covered up my leftover pizza with foil, then promptly did not put it in the refrigerator. I’m still going to bring a couple of slices with me for lunch, but should I eat? It’s pan, in case that matters, and yes, lots of cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/2 "2017-11-22T16:04:45Z")
I have no training in the health sciences. As one data point, however, I have done something similar numerous times and lived. Leftover pizza is too valuable to waste. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/3 "2017-11-22T16:07:40Z")
You obviously weren’t a partier in your youth. Leftover counter pizza and beer makes the best morning after breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/4 "2017-11-22T16:08:40Z")
No, I was not. 🙂 Does it matter if, between visiting for the holidays and stuff, I might not finish the leftovers until next Tuesday? It is now in the fridge, of course. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/5 "2017-11-22T16:12:31Z")
I assume no liability for my answer. First, putting foil on pizza is not a good idea. The tomato sauce (if any) will react with the foil after a few days. It’s up to you, but I’ve run into this problem on several occasions. Second, I doubt that 12-15 hours at room temperature will cause any harm. I’ve eaten a lot of pizza from boxes that were out on the table from the previous night. It’s (basically) bread, cheese, cured meats, veggies, olives, and other ingredients that are unlikely to spoil quickly. Now, if you get raw chicken on your pizza, that’s a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/6 "2017-11-22T16:13:28Z")
Again, also not a scientist, but vast untold thousands upon thousands have eaten cold leftover pizza from the box on the counter the next day. Maybe we’re all ill with low-grade botulism, who knows, but I’ve never given it a second thought. (Although I do generally put it in the fridge, honestly I do.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/7 "2017-11-22T17:09:48Z")
I’ve also eaten cold leftover pizza. And actually, in my mind, one of the things that separates good pizza from bad pizza is how it tastes the next day cold. A good pizza still tastes great that way. But a bad pizza (Pizza Hut pan pizza, for instance) tastes awful that way. And it’s not much better heated up. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/8 "2017-11-22T17:33:18Z")
I buy a pizza every Monday (on special). We have a few slices with dinner and I bring the remainder to work. I never refrigerate it. Never. Sometimes it is still being eaten on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/9 "2017-11-22T17:36:06Z")
In my experience, it depends on where you live. If you are in the South (see relevant thread), there is a good chance that creepy crawly things have visited your pizza in the middle of the night. If you are in a more wintry climate, there is less danger of bug exposure. Presuming you’ve cleared that hurdle, my main concern would be the palatability of the cheese. I have absolutely no expertise in this, but I imagine bad cheese would not do well in your digestive tract. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/10 "2017-11-22T17:42:03Z")
Just stick the slice in a 350 oven for about ten minutes before consuming. That should be enough to kill any germs, bugs, or rodents that crawled into it overnight. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/11 "2017-11-22T17:42:31Z")
Unless the pizza is topped with potato or chicken salad it should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/12 "2017-11-22T17:52:10Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Just stick the slice in a 350 oven for about ten minutes before consuming. That should be enough to kill any germs, bugs, or rodents that crawled into it overnight. yeah - but then it won’t be cold pizza - and warmed up day old pizza is rarely that good (no matter the brand). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/13 "2017-11-22T17:53:51Z")
Ah, pizza the perfect leftover in any condition. Eat and be happy! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/14 "2017-11-22T18:03:39Z")
When the then-future Mrs. L.A.'s father died, I helped her cleaning stuff out of the house, giving her emotional support, and going to the family gathering with her. She’d ordered a pizza and intended to leave the leftovers on the counter overnight. When I said it should be put in the fridge, she said she _always_ left the leftover pizza out. Sorry, but that just skeeves me out. Anyway, since she moved in with me seven years ago, I don’t think she’s left pizza out. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/15 "2017-11-22T18:30:33Z")
> [@simster](#): > > yeah - but then it won’t be cold pizza - and warmed up day old pizza is rarely that good (no matter the brand). Ah yes, pizza and Chinese food: even when they’re cold, they’re still pretty good. Or is that pizza and sex? Never mind. OP: Pizza will not spoil on the counter overnight. It is known. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/16 "2017-11-22T18:35:56Z")
> [@simster](#): > > yeah - but then it won’t be cold pizza - and warmed up day old pizza is rarely that good (no matter the brand). The pizzeria I patronize gives me a pie that heats up next day almost as good as the fresh item. I won’t argue, but I could mail you a slice and you could experiment… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/17 "2017-11-22T18:44:48Z")
> [@B-Rad](#): > > Ah yes, pizza and Chinese food: even when they’re cold, they’re still pretty good. I’d add fried chicken to that list. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/18 "2017-11-22T18:55:38Z")
> [@simster](#): > > yeah - but then it won’t be cold pizza - and warmed up day old pizza is rarely that good (no matter the brand). Actually, I daresay some pizzas are even better reheated (if you reheat them in a cast iron pan with a little bit of oil–these are the pizzas that aren’t crispy enough to begin with. I’ve had several pizzas that were so-so fresh but just spectacular reheated that way.) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/19 "2017-11-22T19:00:58Z")
You should definitely not eat that pizza and instead you should send it to me and I will dispose of it properly and thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/20 "2017-11-22T19:12:13Z")
We have literally never put pizza in the refrigerator. Not even when I was a kid. Wrapped in foil and left on the counter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410.md?page=2)