There is nothing better than the smell and taste of freshly made French fries to complement a homemade or restaurant-made hamburger.
Whether you brought them home from your favorite fast-food restaurant or made them in your kitchen, you may discover the next morning that you forgot to store them. This leads people to question whether or not they can eat French fries left out overnight.
Leaving fries or any other perishable food out for more than two hours can lead to harmful bacteria growing on them. The USDA has emphasized that food left at temperatures ranging from 40℉-140℉ is a haven for the growth of bacteria that can lead to various food-borne illnesses.
Knowing the proper food handling suggestions for French fries can help to stave off any food poisoning that you may encounter from eating food that has been contaminated.
Read on to learn more about how to properly care for your French fries if you have leftovers.
What Happens When French Fries Are Left in Room Temperature For Too Long?
As with most other foods, French fries that are left at room temperature for too long can be subject to bacteria contamination. This is because once food has reached temperatures of 40℉-140℉, harmful bacteria begin to grow at a rapid rate.
Most experts agree that this bacteria growth begins to occur if the food has been left out for two hours or more. This is especially true for foods that are made from hydrated starches such as potatoes.
French fries that are left at room temperature for too long will begin to grow bacteria that then rapidly multiply causing them to be completely contaminated in no time.
If eaten, this can lead to various food-borne illnesses such as food poisoning.
How Long Are Fries Good For If They Are Left Out?
Fries are only good for about two hours if they are left out once your meal is complete. This is because, after this period, harmful bacteria begin to grow and multiply quickly which can cause food poisoning if consumed.
It is important to keep in mind that French fries are no different from other foods that you may cook or pick up at your favorite fast-food restaurant.
Since fries are made from hydrated starch, this makes them more susceptible to certain bacteria if left out for too long.
For most people, storing your fast-food purchase is often the last thing on your mind especially if you are planning on a relaxing evening in front of the television. In most cases, food sits for long periods while you veg out and take your time eating.
If this is the case, you should be aware that if your French fries are sitting out for more than two hours, you may be risking the chance of food poisoning.
Once bacteria begin to grow, it often multiplies quickly even if you do not see signs of this happening.
How Long Can French Fries Be Stored in the Fridge?
French fries that have either been purchased from your favorite restaurant or homemade can be stored safely in the fridge for up to two days. After this period, they should be tossed since some bacteria can grow in the cold even when they are stored in an airtight container.
If you have ever purchased or made French fries, then you probably know that there are often some leftovers that you may not want to toss. If this is the case, you will need to ensure that you have stored them properly in an airtight container.
Once stored, you can safely reheat and eat your fries safely for up to two days. After two days in the fridge, fries begin to harden and become inedible. In addition, some harmful bacteria can grow even in the cold of the refrigerator.
Can You Eat Cold French Fries?
Although most people want their leftover French fries hot from reheating, others do not mind eating them cold.
This, of course, can be done if that is what you prefer, however, there are certain risks involved.
Since certain bacteria can continue to grow in the refrigerator even when the fries are stored in an airtight container, there is a risk of food poisoning if not reheated.
This means that if you choose to eat your French fries straight out of the fridge, you may be at a higher risk for certain food-borne illnesses.
Most experts agree that leftover food should be reheated to a specific temperature to ward off any bacteria that has grown on it while being stored.
When food is reheated to recommended temperatures, the bacteria are typically unable to survive which makes the food safe for consumption.
How Should You Store Leftover French Fries?
As with most leftover food, French fries should be stored in an airtight container directly from the container they were in previously.
It is recommended that the fries have cooled before storing them to prevent moisture from allowing bacteria to grow.
Many people have been guilty of just taking the container that the fries came in and sticking them into the fridge.
This leaves your fries exposed to harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning and risks them from drying out faster.
Storing them in an airtight container can slow down the process of bacteria growth so that they can be consumed at a later time. You will need to ensure that the food is at room temperature before you put them in the container, however.
Once stored in an airtight container, the French fries can sit safely in the fridge for up to two days. After two days, certain bacteria begin to grow, even in the container, which can lead to certain illnesses. In addition, after this period, fries begin to go stale making them hard and inedible.
Can You Reheat French Fries the Day After?
In most cases, French fries can be reheated the day after as long as they were stored properly in the refrigerator. It is recommended that fries be reheated after being stored to kill off any harmful bacteria that may have grown during the storage process.
Just like other leftover foods, if they have been stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, they should be reheated to prevent certain food-borne illnesses. This is especially true for potato products that are made from hydrated starches.
The hydrated starches that are found in potatoes can be a haven for certain bacteria to set up camp. This means that even if you have stored them in a container, there may be contaminants that have made their way onto the food.
Reheating the French fries the day after reduces your risk of getting sick, and, if reheated properly, can make a tasty snack.
The important thing to remember is that when you are reheating your fries, you will need to ensure that they come up to a certain temperature so you are not exposed to bacteria.
How Should You Reheat French Fries?
Knowing how to reheat French fries the right way can be overwhelming and frustrating if done incorrectly. The best way to reheat your fries is to put them on a cookie sheet in the oven or the air fryer for the recommended time.
Many people think that the best way to reheat French fries is to toss them on a plate and microwave them since it takes less time.
This could not be further from the truth since doing this can cause them to be somewhat soggy and limp. There are ways, however, to ensure that your fries are crispy when reheated in the microwave.
One of the best ways to reheat leftover French fries is to remove them from the fridge and allow them to come up to room temperature.
Once this is done, you can toss them with a little oil and place them on a cookie sheet in the oven until they are hot.
Another way to reheat your leftover fries is to use your air fryer. Since the air fryer circulates the heat around the basket, you can ensure that your fries are heated completely and have the crisp texture that fries are famous for.
Using a toaster oven is yet another to reheat French fries that were leftover from a previous meal. All you have to do is place the fries in a single layer on the toaster oven pan and cook them for the recommended time. Many toaster ovens have a “reheat” button, however, “bake” can also be used.
The bottom line is that while it is not safe to eat French fries that were left out overnight if you store them properly in the fridge they can be consumed for up to two days.
It is also important to remember that even reheated French fries may not taste as great as they were when they were freshly made, but being done properly can result in fries that are close to the same.