Cooked chicken can be safely left out at room temperature for up to 2 hours. If the ambient temperature is above 90°F (32°C), this safe time reduces to just 1 hour. Beyond these time limits, bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella and E.coli, multiply rapidly, making the chicken unsafe to eat. Keeping cooked chicken warm above 140°F can extend its safety period, but otherwise, any cooked chicken left out longer than the recommended time should be discarded to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
