# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/41 "2017-11-23T22:30:20Z")
I never refrigerate leftover pizza. I’ve eaten it the next day (or the day after!) from the counter many, many times. I’m 63 and still in good health. I’d say eat it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/42 "2017-11-24T17:07:02Z")
This whole thread reminds me of that other thread where a Doper found unopened beer in a dumpster and wondered if he should drink it. Anyone know where that thread was? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/43 "2017-11-24T18:59:09Z")
You left it out “overnight”? As in, just one? What else is one supposed to do with leftover pizza? You can’t put it in the refrigerator…that just ruins it. Now, if it were any more than say, 3 days…then I might be cautious…but leftover room-temperature pizza is one of the better things in life. To throw it away would just be…wrong. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/44 "2017-11-24T19:27:36Z")
When my brother and I were little, my mother would make pizza on Friday nights. Not “real” pizza, but from one of those Chef Boy-ar-dee pizza kits. Still good, anyway. The leftover pizza was left in the pan in the oven overnight and we ate it for breakfast while watching Saturday morning cartoons. We’re still both alive. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/45 "2017-11-24T19:42:44Z")
> [@](#): > > This whole thread reminds me of that other thread where a Doper found unopened beer in a dumpster and wondered if he should drink it. I don’t remember that one, but I do remember one where someone asked about Kraft singles, still in their original packaging, that they forgot to put in the fridge for three hours. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/46 "2017-11-24T20:44:29Z")
What was the meat involved? No meat or pepperoni, very likely Ok, assuming a clean kitchen, no bugs and kinda cool. Ground meat or chicken- much less safe. So, the tomato sauce, the cheese and the crust will be Ok. ---
**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 24, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/47 "2017-11-24T21:10:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t remember that one, but I do remember one where someone asked about Kraft singles, still in their original packaging, that they forgot to put in the fridge for three hours. I don’t remember either one. But unlike Kraft Deli Deluxe, Kraft Singles aren’t actually cheese. ---
**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 24, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/48 "2017-11-24T22:17:14Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What was the meat involved? No meat or pepperoni, very likely Ok, assuming a clean kitchen, no bugs and kinda cool. I would actually assume pepperoni is okay. It’s a cured meat product, meant to last for a long time at room temperatures. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/49 "2017-11-24T23:05:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t remember that one, but I do remember one where someone asked about Kraft singles, still in their original packaging, that they forgot to put in the fridge for three hours. I’m pretty sure it was on here. I think the guy said it was his pride vs. his desire to drink the free beer. Someone posted a line I remembered for years: Beer kicks pride in the balls. Drink it. I still smile when I think of that line. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/50 "2017-11-24T23:18:27Z")
We leave everything casually on the counter or in a pot on the stove. Then we eat it when we feel like it. In fifty years of doing this, nothing has ever happened not even slightly. Americans are weirdo germaphobes. Only exception I make is raw milk. That goes bad in hours if not chilled down and kept cold. What is in a pizza? Bread Cheese Pepperoni Tomato sauce Oh, maybe the room temperature onions are gonna kill ya. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/51 "2017-11-25T01:36:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would actually assume pepperoni is okay. It’s a cured meat product, meant to last for a long time at room temperatures. Yes. Either no meat or pepperoni is OK. Other meats might not be. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/52 "2017-11-25T01:42:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What was the meat involved? No meat or pepperoni, very likely Ok, assuming a clean kitchen, no bugs and kinda cool. > > Ground meat or chicken- much less safe. > > So, the tomato sauce, the cheese and the crust will be Ok. In my experience pepperoni’s perfectly fine to leave out overnight; the salt will act as a preservative as will the rest of the salt in the pizza. In fact I’d submit that the salt in the pizza is more of a health hazard than leaving it out overnight – unless it’s chicken or ground beef (as you said). But I’ve eaten pepperoni pizza even 18-24 hours later. It sucked, probably somewhat risky and wouldn’t recommend it, but I’ve done it. But 8-12 hours is no problem. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/53 "2017-11-25T01:43:06Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes. Either no meat or pepperoni is OK. Other meats might not be. As a general rule, do not mess around with chicken. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/54 "2017-11-25T01:44:17Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > What is in a pizza? > Bread > Cheese > Pepperoni > Tomato sauce > > Oh, maybe the room temperature onions are gonna kill ya. Sausage. Chicken. Hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410/55 "2017-11-25T01:45:51Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > As a general rule, do not mess around with chicken. Yep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-pizza-on-counter-overnight/802410.md?page=2)