Eli5 why is it that food can be left in steamers and under heat warming lamps for hours but it harbors harmful bacteria if you leave it in a hot place like a car for a few hours?

Question

Eli5 why is it that food can be left in steamers and under heat warming lamps for hours but it harbors harmful bacteria if you leave it in a hot place like a car for a few hours?

In: 312

Answer 1

I worked in a deli for years, we had to temperature probe the hot food every hour or so to make sure its internal temperature was about 60C or 65C or something.

Basically, you keep the food too hot for bacteria to survive and multiply.