Can I Eat This #3.14

March 13, 2021 8:44 AM

We made this cocoa cream pie. It was refrigerated, then a slice was taken out, and then left on the counter for 12+ hours. Can I eat it?
posted by sacrifix to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

I'm sure it's a bad idea but I almost always end up leaving custard pies like that out on the counter, sometimes even for a couple days. Not risk-free, but I personally wouldn't worry at all. Like, at Thanksgiving probably all the pies made in my family have been out of the fridge for at least eight hours, probably many closer to 24 hours by the time we get around to eating them.
posted by mskyle at 8:57 AM on March 13, 2021

I would totally eat it.
posted by sillysally at 8:58 AM on March 13, 2021

If you won’t, I will.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:59 AM on March 13, 2021 [7 favorites]

Best answer: The bakery near me leaves custardy cakes on the counter all day as they slice into them... good enough for me!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:02 AM on March 13, 2021 [2 favorites]

Excuse to not eat: sure you can eat it assuming you don't have gut or immune issues etc., but your body will have to work extra and you might get food poisoning.

Excuse to eat: Looks tasty. Waste not want not. Do it to prevent climate change.
posted by aniola at 9:14 AM on March 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

Refrigeration is an extremely recent invention in human history. If this was going to be harmful to you, our species would never have made it to the point of inventing refrigeration.
posted by number9dream at 9:27 AM on March 13, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks all!
posted by sacrifix at 10:18 AM on March 13, 2021

If I were you I would reward myself for having the best heading for an Ask!
posted by kate4914 at 2:42 PM on March 13, 2021 [4 favorites]

I would eat it without hesitation.

Well maybe a little hesitation, but only because I want to lose some weight.
posted by ToddBurson at 3:55 PM on March 13, 2021

Foodborne illness causes 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If a pie contains eggs or dairy products, it should be stored in the refrigerator and not left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Pies that do not contain eggs or dairy products, such as fruit pies, can be stored, loosely covered, at room temperature for up to two days. Additionally, to keep the fruit pies a few extra days, they can be stored in the refrigerator.
posted by SageTrail at 8:03 PM on March 13, 2021 [2 favorites]

Yes.
posted by latkes at 5:29 PM on March 14, 2021

My concern is it wouldn't be at optimum deliciousness if it had warmed to room temperature?
posted by unicorn chaser at 11:18 AM on March 15, 2021