I left a cooked ham out over night, about 5 hours. Is it still usable?

Answer 1

if the temperature of the ham was between 40 and 145 for more than 4 hours, throw it out. That is what is known as the temperature danger zone. The temp is perfect for bacterial growth.

Answer 2

Little Nipper and Jeremy T gave you the right answers.

If your kitchen was being inspected by a real health inspector, you'd be required to throw out the ham after it had been sitting out for 5 hours. 4 hours outside of the safe temperature zone (Hotter than 135ºF or Colder than 40ºF) is the absolute limit.

Yes, hams are cured and salted. However, that does not always protect the outside surface of the ham, which can easily accumulate bacteria from surfaces and dust. While cooking can kill off the bacteria, sometimes it's the toxins that bacteria leave behind that can cause sickness. Cases in point for hame: Staph aureus. This is a very common bacteria that lives on our skin, on our dust and all over our environment. When Staph get onto food, they secrete a toxin that makes people vomit and have acute diarrhea.

STAPH TOXIN CANNOT BE COOKED OUT.

Once Staph toxin gets on your food, it has to be tossed. eating the food will make you sick.

So if you want to hold your own home cooking to the same standards we hold our restaurants, then toss the ham.

Answer 3

For a restaurant - no, four hours is the max per food safety guidelines. I would definitley eat it though because ham is salted enough to slow bacterial growth. Also, all the bacteria will be on the outside of the ham. If you're worried, simply trim off the outer 1/4" of meat, rinse the remainder and you'll guarantee it's safety. It might spoil in the fridge a little early though. Throw it out at the first sign of bad smell or a slimy coating.

Answer 4

Cured ham is not a very good medium for the growth of bacteria. Uncured meat is a little different. If by chance there was any contamination, it was eliminated when you cooked it. When you removed it from the oven, it was bug free. Leaving it at room temperature for 5 hours will not effect the product unless you smeared it with a bacteria culture of some sort. Even if there was some surface contamination in that period of time, it can be removed by simply shaving off a thin surface layer. There won't be any problem with the meat on the inside. Have you ever been to a party with a cold-cut plate served. There will be crackers and cheese and ham and the like left out during the course of that party. Most certainly it can be left on the table for hours as people nibble away at it, right? As for me; I would have no problem feeding it to my family and I am very cautious when it comes to them.

Answer 5

If the ham was a smoked ham that you bought at the grocery, then probably yes because of the high salt content. I would be tempted to reheat it thoroughly before eating it though.

Use as sliced ham and cook for breakfast or cook in soup beans. That way the temperature would reach 160+ and would kill bacteria.

Answer 6

If it was very warm in the room. No. If it was cool OK Maybe. If it was a country ham. It has enough salt in it that the bacteria would not grow as fast

Answer 7

yes,ham is already cooked.

Answer 8

my mother would say its good,
i'd be suspicious.

if it was still cool to the touch this morning i'd say its still fine...

and if you get sick after eating it you'll know no to eat left overs right?

Answer 9

was it coverd was it in the microwave???
if not,then no its not usable to eat

Answer 10

Five hours? Yeah, you should be okay.