How long can you keep food warm in a crock pot??

Question

I had boiled chicken first and then set it in the crock pot for 3hrs on low with some broth and seasonings. After the time is up my pot switches it to 'keep warm', and Ive had it on since Tuesday night!! Is it still good??

Im not sure about food being cooked too long but once heard of someone who would cook large meals in the crock pot and leave it on keep warm for the whole week so their family could help themselves. Ive been looking on different sites but need a more definate answer that pertains to my situation! Please help! Im hungry, lol.

Answer 1

no, throw it out.

Answer 2

Honestly, I have left mine on keep warm for up to 6 hours and we were all fine. And I use mine a lot. It is already up on a pretty high temp and will take quite a while to cool off to an unsafe temp on "keep warm". But I have even heard of people having it on keep warm overnight with no issues. The most bacteria is grown when people put their hot crock pots in the fridge and it stays at a bacteria friendly temp for hours on end in the fridge, and even then it is usually still fine... I think you'll be fine (as long as it is fully cooked). You can come back and yell at me if you guys get sick. And yes, my guy was born with the smalled amount of the fine, fuzzy baby down. I thought he was going to have a full head of hair and even brought a baby brush, so I could brush his hair right after he was out. But he was a little on the bald side, but he did have some cute fuzz.

Answer 3

Depends on the food but almost all food left warming for a long time (a day) is going to be overcooked and yucky- even vegetable soup. Chicken? Well, the real key would be knowing the temperature that the crockpot maintains as warm. Chicken (certainly any animal based food) can still grow bacteria after it's cooked if left at close to room temp. While I kind of doubt that it's dangerous, it's not worth it and can't be that tasty anyway.
Cook it once, refrigerate it, if they want to come back and eat the leftovers, use the microwave.

Answer 4

Hi, the issue that is always the dangerous one to deal with is salmonella poisoning. Any food that sits at blood temp 98.4F is the ideal temp for any bacteria to grow. Keeping things warm is not an issue as long as you raise the temperature to boiling point for 20mins before eating.

Crock pots are fine if you remember the above. Turn the temp to high and set the clock.

Answer 5

Years.

Answer 6

I love crock pots, but you can't keep them warm for longer than a day as far as I'm concerned.
Give it the sniff test. If it's been on the whole time it's probably good. If you get diarrhea there's your answer. It will probably only be dangerous if there's fish or milk products in it.

Answer 7

Test the temp with your digital meat thermometer while on (Keep Warm) if its over 140F deg You will for the most part not be growing bacteria . Over 140F deg most bacteria is unable to live. I would go 6 hrs max unless food quality was not a concern.

Answer 8

I wouldn't keep it going for days, one day max. I'm no expert but I believe in refrigeration and you shouldn't keep any fresh cooked food for longer than a week.

Answer 9

It will depend on the fruit or plant linked to a comparison. In the event you compare a n to a carrot, the carrot is the better of the two nutritional. But since you compare an avocado to the carrot, then this avocado is better. Equally the apple and avocado, are fruits.

Answer 10

my family cooks in the crockpot all the time. its actually fairly warm for some long time, but i suggest you throw it out. really. the meat and all that junk has spoiled. if you don't believe me, eat it then. but im telling you make something else, :o

Answer 11

24 hours after cooking. You really should cool and put in the fridge if you want to keep it a few days.