How Long Can Brisket Sit Out? (Explained!)

Cooking a whole brisket is an intelligent choice for big gatherings with many hungry people attending – it’s delicious and extremely big. Another good thing about brisket is that you have to really serve it; when it’s done, you just have to put it somewhere everyone can get it, and each one will take how much they want by themselves.

But since that means you have to leave the brisket out for a while before everyone can get their bit, it is essential to know the answer to the following question:

How long can brisket sit out? As the United States Department of Agriculture says, brisket can sit out for no more than two hours. After that time, it may be dangerous to eat it anymore because bacteria grow very quickly at room temperature.

This is hardly everything there is to be said, though, so, in order to understand this topic, we’re going to have to take a more in-depth look.

So why are we wasting any more time? Let’s just jump right into it!

How Long Can Brisket Sit OutPin

Does brisket need to be refrigerated?

Yes, brisket needs to be refrigerated, at least if you’re not planning on eating it right away. That’s because while in the fridge brisket can stay eatable for five days before and five days after cooking, it turns bad instantly at room temperature.

How long can brisket sit out of the fridge?

As we have touched a bit in the last paragraph, brisket can’t be left out for too long if you want to be sure it’s safe to eat it. In fact, according to the USDA, brisket cannot sit out of the fridge for more than two hours.

The reason for that is bacteria grow very, very quickly at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F, resulting in perishable food turning bad so fast at room temperature.

Can brisket be left out overnight?

Just a bit above, we have explained why it is dangerous for brisket to sit out of the fridge for just two hours. Therefore, brisket really cannot be left out overnight, simply because eating it would be dangerous then.

Can smoked brisket sit out overnight?

And the same goes for smoked brisket – in the opinion of the USDA, it should never be left out the fridge for any more than two hours. And that means smoked brisket cannot sit out overnight.

Can cooked brisked sit out overnight?

And not even cooked brisket is an exception because it should never be left out for more than two hours either, according to the already mentioned safety guidelines by the USDA. Hence, cooked brisket absolutely can’t sit out overnight.

How long can cooked brisket sit out?

We have already mentioned that the USDA says, no perishable food, cooked brisket not excluded, should ever be left out of the fridge for more than two hours. Due to that, cooked brisket can sit out for only two hours if you want to ensure it is safe to eat.

How long can smoked brisket sit out?

And nothing changes when we’re talking about smoked brisket because it all once again comes to the USDA’s suggestion not to leave any perishable food out for more than two hours. So, therefore, smoked brisket cannot sit out for more than two hours.

How long can raw brisket sit out?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, raw brisket can sit out for no more than two hours. The reason for that is the high bacteria’s activity at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F that can make the raw meat dangerous to eat pretty quick.

How can you tell if brisket is bad?

Just like it is with other food as well, telling whether or not it is still safe to eat your brisket is an extremely easy task. To tell if brisket is bad, you just have to smell it and look at it. Then, if there’s nothing wrong that would hit your eyes or nose, you can eat it without any worries.

How do you keep brisket fresh?

If you want your brisket to stay in the best shape possible, you have to do only two things. Firstly, seal the brisket into airtight containers so that no oxygen can get in there, which is crucial for storing any food. 

Secondly, put the containers with the brisket into your fridge. There it will stay in perfect shape for five days.

What happens when you eat a bad brisket?

When you eat a bad brisket, there is a chance you will get food poisoned. That means you may have a stomach ache, diarrhea, or vomiting, and because of that, you should never eat brisket that was left out for too long.

Summary

According to the USDA, brisket cannot be left out of the fridge for any longer than two hours, both when it is raw and when it is cooked. Hence, it is always necessary to store it in the fridge.

There, the cooked brisket will stay good for something like four days, while the raw brisket can last for even as long as five days. And by the way, don’t forget to firstly seal the brisket in some air-tight containers before putting it into your refrigerator.

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Image credits – Canva

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