How are bento boxes safe to eat when they’re kept at room temperature for several hours before eating?
In: 103
tl;dr you can’t legally sell it in a restaurant, but if it looks and smells fine, it probably is
They’re not technically “safe” if they are held between 40F and 120F for more than 4 hours. ( [r/KitchenConfidential](https://www.reddit.com/r/KitchenConfidential) please don’t crucify me if my numbers are wrong, I’ve been out of the game for a long time)
However, that’s not to say they’re entirely unsafe *for everyone*. The health code is there to protect the entire population, including immunosuppressed folks, kids, elders, etc. If you’re the type to enjoy making cute little lunch boxes, you’re also likely to be younger and your immune system not crushed by existential dread and the boot of the Man on your neck.
While it’s true no one *should* be eating time/temp controlled foods out of regs, they’ll probably be just fine.
Latest Answers