USDA-based storage times · 150 foods

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📍 Where has it been?
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The three rules that cover almost everything

2 hrs
The counter rule
Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours enters the danger zone (40–140°F) where bacteria double every 20 minutes. Above 90°F outside? That window drops to 1 hour.
3–4 days
The leftover rule
Almost every cooked leftover is safe 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Day 5 is a gamble no expert recommends. Label containers with the date and this decision makes itself.
∞ safe*
The freezer rule
Food frozen at 0°F stays safe indefinitely — freezer times are about quality, not safety. A steak frozen for two years won't hurt you; it just won't taste great.