If you must leave your Pizza Hut leftovers stranded, waiting to be eaten later rather than right away, don’t leave it out for too long. The longevity depends on the pizza you get and how you store it for later. Let’s see how long does Pizza Hut pizza last and the best methods for keeping it.
Pizza Hut pizza can last for two hours if left at room temperature. If it’s left out of the fridge overnight, there’s a high risk of getting food poisoning. If you keep Pizza Hut pizza in the refrigerator, don’t do it longer than two days for the same reasons. The longest you can store leftover pizza in the fridge is four days.
How Long Does Pizza Hut Pizza Last if I Keep It in Room Temperature?
Pizza Hut pizza can last for two hours at room temperature or as long as four days in the fridge if kept at a temperature lower than 40 degrees F. This information comes from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA,) which educates people and companies about food safety.
Pizza Hut offers pizzas in various sizes. The personal pan pizza is 6-inches, and there are 12-inch (medium) and 14-inch (large) ones, too. While the personal pan pizza may seem like the easiest choice to avoid leftovers, everyone getting an individual meal increases the risk of having leftovers.
The best thing would be to share the largest pizza among friends to reduce the potential leftover food and not stuff yourself with carbs. Of course, there may be differences in everyone’s taste and some people are vegetarian and others aren’t – this is when most food gets left for later.
What Are the Risks of Eating Room-Temperature Pizza Leftovers?
According to the USDA, every 20 minutes the dish is left out of the fridge, the risk of foodborne illnesses that cause poisoning increases. This is especially true for meat pizzas, like the Italian Meats, Meat Lover’s, and any other variation.
Chicken can be especially tricky because it’s a common transmitter of salmonella. Any Chicken pizzas, like the classic Chicken Lover’s or Caesar, should be eaten as soon as possible. You run the risk of contracting food poisoning, and that’s not a fun way to digest your favorite carb meal.
It’s Generally Much Better to Keep Leftover Pizza in the Fridge
If you do end up with leftover pizza after ordering your favorite Pizza Hut meal, put the remaining pieces in the refrigerator. Freezing temperatures ensure the ingredients stay as fresh as possible and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
However, refrigerated pizza also has a shelf life – up to four days or 96 hours is enough to preserve the dish and have it stay as risk-free as possible. On day five, it’s up to you if you want to take the risk.
I know, reheating pizza sounds awful, but it’s better to reheat it than to let it develop bacteria that could ruin your weekend. It’s all about having the future you in your mind and ensuring that you’re a responsible adult that stays healthy (ish) for as long as possible.
How Long Will My Leftovers Last in the Fridge?
The kind people from the USDA said that keeping pizza in the fridge is fine. While that will make it edible for longer than one afternoon, why would you wait four days to eat it? Two days tops are recommended by many health experts, and not an hour longer.
It makes sense since everything after 24 or 48 hours might be pushing things too far. Ensure you finish that meal within the next two days and enjoy it as much as possible.
Will I Definitely Get Food Poisoning if I Eat Stale Pizza?
No, you won’t. That mainly depends on your immune system and the temperature and environment where the pizza is kept. Some people have guts of steel and can handle any food combination or leftover, while others are sensitive to the slightest changes in texture or taste.
If you’ve eaten leftover pizza before and lived to tell the tale, you might be okay this time. You won’t know how your body will react to it until you try it, so even if you were brave and intact the last time, it doesn’t mean you’ll get the same result.
Overall, it’s OK to leave your Pizza Hut meal to rest for a bit, but here’s a summary of what to do:
- Pizza left at room temperature should be eaten the same day,
- It’s best to put leftover pizza in the fridge,
- Refrigerated leftovers are good for up to four days,
- Order proportionate sizes from Pizza Hut to avoid leftovers altogether.
For Better or Worse, Make Sure You Eat Your Pizza as Soon as Possible (The Same Day, Preferably)
This stance doesn’t support overeating or stuffing your face, so the pizza doesn’t go stale, no. Invite a pal over for lunch or share it with a neighbor if you have a lot of your Pizza Hut meal left.
In the worst-case scenario, eat it for breakfast the following day (and promise yourself you’ll eat healthier from tomorrow) and don’t let it go to waste.
Of course, eat it the following morning only if you’ve put it in the fridge right after eating. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be good even as bird food. That’d be a luxurious birdy snack, though.