Direct answer
Throw away perishable TCS food if it was left out for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour when the surrounding temperature was above 90°F. Also throw it away when you do not know how long it was out.
Do not use smell, taste, or reheating as proof that left-out food is safe.
Foods this usually applies to
The rule is most important for TCS foods because they can support pathogen growth when time and temperature are not controlled.
- Cooked meat, poultry, seafood, rice, pasta, beans, and potatoes.
- Milk, dairy-based foods, eggs, and egg dishes.
- Cut melon, cut tomatoes, and cut leafy greens.
- Pasta salad, potato salad, deviled eggs, cooked burgers, hot dogs, and cooked chicken.
- Prepared foods with mixed perishable ingredients.
Exam trap
A question may say the food was later reheated. That does not automatically make it safe if it already spent too long in the danger zone or has unknown history.