# Taco Soup left out overnight.... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826 "2014-12-21T16:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 21, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/21 "2014-12-21T22:50:32Z")
When I worked in food service, it was stressed to us to never leave food in the danger zone for more than 4 hours. I see the CDC now recommends 2 hours. This makes sense since the site says bacteria can double in number in as little as 20 minutes. So, yeah, 10 1/2 hours is definitely far too long to leave something at room temperature. Especially since the soup was never heated in the first place. OP, if you’re still with us, I hope you got rid of the soup. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/22 "2014-12-21T22:52:27Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > The bigger the pot, the actual volume of soup, the longer it takes to cool down. Three gallons vs three quarts. > > (I’d also note that the shape of the pot matters too. The same volume of water takes longer to cool off in [this pan](http://www.google.com/search?q=three-quart+saute+pan&num=100&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=HD-XVPfPI67IsASZ-YKIDQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg) than it does in [this pot](http://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=three-quart+stock+pot&oq=three-quart+stock+pot&gs_l=img.3...502.12486.0.13118.10.10.0.0.0.0.1299.2541.0j8j0j1j7-1.10.0.ehm_loc...0...1c.1.60.img..10.0.0.hPY37nvSzms) because of the surface area.) > > CMC fnord! Even a large pot is problematic. The soup can be much cooler where it contacts the pot and where it’s exposed to the air on top. Rapid cooling is the safest way to keep cooked foods. Volume is a hindrance to cooling unless you greatly increase the cooling surface area with a pot much larger than what it contains. And leaving a pot to cool at room temperature is a problem no matter what the surface area is. If it was simply broth than the analogy to water might be more appropriate, but soup contains solids that will cool at a different rate than the broth making things worse. The number of factors involved is large and varying which is why rapid immediate cooling is the safest way to keep cooked foods. ETA: Watery soups are very easy to cool, make them with minimal water and just add ice when it’s done, then put the soup in the refrigerator. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/23 "2014-12-21T23:31:59Z")
I have found soup to be pretty bad about spoiling quickly. Not sure why but I left some in the crockpot overnight and by morning it was bubbling on its own and smelled like crap. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/24 "2014-12-21T23:45:20Z")
Since this is a health issue, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**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:** [December 21, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/25 "2014-12-21T23:53:24Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Not sure why but I left some in the crockpot overnight and by morning it was bubbling on its own and smelled like crap. This happened to a pot roast my dad left in the oven after dinner. Bubbling on its own. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/26 "2014-12-21T23:56:57Z")
if the soup is really valuable then pick the lest valuable family member to test a bowl. i’m assuming you have good health insurance and that person could spend some time in the hospital. or you could just throw it out. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/27 "2014-12-22T05:19:57Z")
Cooking and drinking don’t mix! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/28 "2014-12-22T14:50:18Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I have found soup to be pretty bad about spoiling quickly. Not sure why but I left some in the crockpot overnight and by morning it was bubbling on its own and smelled like crap. It’s pretty nearly an ideal growth medium for bacteria. Protein dispersed in a warm, wet environment. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/29 "2014-12-22T15:13:31Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > if the soup is really valuable then pick the lest valuable family member to test a bowl. We must be related. This is the first solution anyone in my family would suggest. Thanks for my first laugh of the morning. 😃 I’ve had food poisoning - throw the soup out. It’s not worth the risk. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/30 "2014-12-22T15:33:51Z")
Normally, I err on the side of “soup is delicious, I don’t care what the Food Police have to say…” This time, I’m saying, “throw it out”. It wasn’t particularly safe when you ate the first bowl. Now it might need to be classified as Hazardous Waste. Compare your soup to the ingredientsfor making bacterial culture broth here: [http://www.genomics.agilent.com/files/Mobio/Media\_Bacterial\_Culture\_Media.pdf](http://www.genomics.agilent.com/files/Mobio/Media_Bacterial_Culture_Media.pdf) Note that “yeast extract” is basically protein, vitamins and minerals, same as ground beef, beans and vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/31 "2014-12-22T16:50:22Z")
Really folks, if you can’t afford some fresh food let me know and I’ll send you some. Otherwise just don’t eat stuff that was left out overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826/32 "2014-12-22T19:42:03Z")
I can’t afford cheesecake. Will you please send me some? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taco-soup-left-out-overnight/707826.md?page=1)