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

According to US food safety standards, there is the “Rule of 4”:

#Between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit is safe for 4 hours.*

This applies to cars and heat lamps. Keeping food outside of that temp range is safe, as bacteria have difficulty operating/surviving.

*it’s technically between 41 and 135 degrees, but that’s harder to remember.