It is not safe to eat cooked chicken that has been left out at room temperature for 4 hours. The general food safety guideline from the USDA and food safety authorities is that cooked chicken should not be left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, or only 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F (32°C). After this time, harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly, increasing the risk of food poisoning. Reheating the chicken after this period does not guarantee safety, as some bacteria and toxins may survive heating.
In summary, chicken left out for 4 hours exceeds the recommended safe time frame and should be discarded to avoid foodborne illness.
