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

there’s a danger zone where bacteria are most harmful

food under heating lamps are constantly kept at a temperature *above* the danger zone, where bacteria die

food left in a car rapidly hits the danger zone, where bacteria multiply