Perhaps you went out late at night hoping to find some restaurant that’s still open. And Taco Bell, being the popular late-night spot for anyone hungry, calls your name. The only downside is, that you bought way too much and now want to know what to do with your leftovers?
You should never consume Taco Bell which was left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Food develops a lot of germs in a short period of time at this temperature and it’s likely to make you sick if you eat it. Food is also far more likely to come into contact with germs in the air which increase your likelihood of food poisoning even more.
It is always best to play it safe when it comes to the potential for food poisoning. This is especially true if you have any pre-existing conditions or are a member of the more vulnerable populations. We’ve made you this guide to help you eat your leftover Taco Bell safely!
What Happens If You Leave a Taco Bell Meal Out Overnight?
You should not consume taco bells that have been left out for more than two hours at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
If the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) then you should throw out your food after one hour. Most food will start developing dangerous levels of bacteria at these temperatures.
The FDA does not recommend consuming any food, whether prepared or raw, that has been left out at room temperature.
The primary reason for this bacteria development is that temperatures between 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit (4-32 degrees Celsius) are known as the danger zone.
This translates to bacteria multiplying rapidly every twenty minutes, most estimates suggesting bacteria can even double every twenty minutes.
It is the amount of bacteria that matters in food poisoning cases since it increases the probability of a serious infection.
What are the Most Common Bacteria in Food?
E. Coli is a common bacteria found in food, and most strains are not harmful. Unless, you are elderly, very young, or have a pre-existing condition. Most people will only experience mild stomach discomfort and the body will remove it in your stool.
Salmonella is another common bacteria found in food. This bacteria comes from feces or urine but is actually most commonly passed between humans.
Many assume it comes from animal manure, but this is not the case. Most cases of food poisoning happen after the food is cooked and touched by someone who did not properly wash their hands.
Salmonella can be killed by properly heating the food to between 145-165 degrees Fahrenheit (63-74 degrees Celsius). But, it is up to the food handlers after the food is heated to ensure they do not touch it with dirty hands and clean surfaces properly.
Listeria is the rarest, yet also the most dangerous, of the food-borne illnesses and bacteria. This bacteria also comes from animal and human feces, however, the symptoms are far more severe.
The best way to prevent listeria is to cook your foods to the temperatures quoted above and ensure proper food handling.
What Can Happen If You Consume a Taco That’s Gone Bad?
The most common result of consuming food from Taco Bell that’s gone bad is a mild case of food poisoning. These usually manifest as a soft stool, short bouts of diarrhea, or stomach discomfort. However, there are many cases where this is far more severe and can be quite harmful.
Food poisoning occurs when you consume foods that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria. As we described above, these bacteria can be passed on to food after it is cooked or be the result of poorly cooked food.
Bacteria enters the body and then the body recognizes it as an invasive and dangerous substance. Your antibodies try to get this bacteria out of your body, resulting in several symptoms.
Food poisoning can result in moderate symptoms, which are most common after consuming contaminated foods. These symptoms include the following:
- Mild diarrhea that clears up after a few days
- Stomach cramping
- Vomiting
- Chills/fever-like symptoms
- Low stomach pain
- Possible blood in stool, but not excessive
More severe food poisoning will likely result in the following:
- Persistent vomiting for days
- Unable to consume food or liquid without vomiting
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Excessive dehydration
- Very high temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius)
- Blurred vision
- Dry tongue
The most dangerous part of food poisoning is the potential for severe dehydration. If you are constantly vomiting or experiencing symptoms of dehydration, make sure you see a doctor. Additionally, call a doctor if you have blood in your vomit or large amounts of blood in your stool.
How Can You Tell If a Taco Meal Has Gone Bad?
How to tell if a Taco Bell meal has gone bad depends somewhat on what type of foods you purchased from Taco Bell, but the best tell-tale signs include rancid smell, taste, or off-color. Also, check for sogginess and moldy smells or signs of rot on the surface of the food.
For burritos and tacos, the best way to tell if your Taco Bell has gone bad is to check sogginess and signs of grey sickly color. The scent will likely be rancid with a potent anomia scent.
The meat will likely also appear slimy and possibly have a whitish goo on the surface. This is true for any dishes you get with meat in them If you see these signs, definitely do not consume the food.
Other dishes, such as nachos, taco bowls, or quesadillas show slightly different signs. Obviously, if you got meat on any of these dishes pay attention to the signs mentioned above. However, there are some other signs you should also be aware of.
Avocado is a common addition to the taco power bowl. Make sure you eat this dish within a day of getting your bowl or get the avocado and sour cream on the side. Avocado will likely turn brown and become rancid when it is no longer edible.
For nachos and quesadillas, pay attention to the cheese inside of the quesadilla or on top of the chips and the tortilla and chips.
Most of these places will exhibit signs of sogginess and possibly even mold. Since these dishes are somewhat wet they’re more likely to get mold buildup.
Remember that you cannot necessarily depend on sight and smell to determine if food is still good. Never taste food if you are uncertain if it’s okay, and if you have reason to believe it has gone bad, then it’s best you throw it away.
How Should You Store Leftover Taco Bell?
The best way to store your Taco Bell is in an airtight container in the fridge. You can safely store the food overnight in the original package. But it is recommended that you move it to a more sealed container as soon as possible.
When you consume contaminated, pre-cooked food your chances of getting an infection increase if you did not properly store your food. Proper storage prevents the food from becoming cross-contaminated with other food in your refrigerator.
Germs can also settle onto food from the surrounding air. If you don’t have an airtight container, don’t worry, there are other storage methods you can try.
If your food came in some sort of cardboard container, then this is safe for storage as long as the space is dry. If you notice the container can become damp while in the fridge, make sure you throw it away. This is likely unclean water and may make you sick.
Do not ever try to reheat Taco Bell to kill the bacteria. Even though cooking does kill a lot of bacteria, it should not be trusted to purify pre-cooked food of the potential contamination.
How Long Can You Store Leftover Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is best if eaten within a day of getting it, so long as it was stored as soon as possible after you purchased it.
However, many claim Taco Bell can last up to a week in the refrigerator, but we would recommend sticking to just 3 days to play it safe.
Certain dishes will certainly last better than others in the fridge. Tacos and burritos will likely get soggy and unpleasant after a day or two.
Likewise, nachos do not necessarily store well in the fridge, especially if they have guacamole or cheese sauce on it. The chips may become rather dry in the fridge so make sure you cover the food securely to prevent them from becoming dried out.
Many dishes will be safe to eat for up to 3 days though. This is true regardless of the food types, but certain types will likely store better than others.
How to Reheat Leftover Taco Bell Meals
You can reheat your Taco Bell meals in the oven, on the stovetop, microwave, and toaster oven. Each meal differs slightly and depending on what you have, some methods may be better than others.
Generally, however, all Taco Bell meals heat adequately in the microwave.
How to Reheat in the Oven/Toaster Oven (Most Recommended): To reheat your Taco Bell dishes in the toaster oven or full-scale oven you should start by placing your food on a cooking tray.
You can add a layer of tin foil to prevent it from burning to the tray. This is especially useful for bowls and nachos.
How to Reheat on the Stove Top: To cook on the stovetop start by getting a frying pan and layering it in oil. Add the food and cook your food on moderate to high heat.
Do not leave your food unattended on the stovetop because it’ll need to be flipped or shuffled as it cooks.
How to Reheat in the Microwave: The microwave is by far the most simple method. All you need is a microwave-safe plate or bowl, add the food, and microwave on high for about 2-4 minutes.
For the best results, remove any cheese sauce, sour cream, avocado, or other ingredients which will get damaged by the heat.