Chili is a great hot dish to serve, especially on a cold winter night, but it is also a delicious leftover recipe. It is one of the most popular dishes to refrigerate and reheat for lunch or dinner the next day. And since many people have jumped on the meal prep bandwagon, it’s natural to wonder how safe it is to eat chili left out overnight.
If you’re someone that likes to prepare chili con carne for the entire week and refrigerates it until it is time to serve it for dinner, this article is for you!
Chili Left Out Overnight – What to Do?
As your chili cools to room temperature overnight, it can sometimes become a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause food poisoning. But that’s highly unlikely and most people reheat and eat chili the next day.
So, if you left chili out overnight in a crockpot, you can eat it if there’s no spoilage signs.
Our recommendation: Store chili in the fridge within a two hour window to keep it safe for serving the next day.
Signs Chili Has Gone Bad
Mold is generally a sign that chili is past its prime.
Mold just doesn’t develop on fresh cheese, bread, and fruit — it can grow on your leftover chili if given enough time.
If your chili looks moldy, you should discard it immediately. According to USDA guidelines, some forms of mold can cause illness, allergic reactions, and respiratory issues.
If chili shows no sign of mold, but you’re unsure if you can eat it or not, try another method of checking its freshness.
Toss your chili if its color has changed after leaving it out overnight. Your chili should be the same color as when you first cooked it.
Before eating leftover chili corne, carefully inspect for freshness and ask yourself if all of the components look the same as when you cooked them. For example, beef turns from brown to gray or corn goes from yellow to pale brown.
This method for checking chili left out overnight method is very effective. You can also use this method for meals that contain fresh ingredients such as produce, meat, and fresh dairy.
Leftover chili smells bad.
If the chili doesn’t smell delicious or the smell has changed dramatically, it’s probably best to throw it away.
You might be able to tell leftover chili has gone bad by the smell alone.
Per the USDA, a rotten smell is a tell-tale sign that your chili corne leftovers are ready to be tossed out. Generally, your chili should smell the same as when you cooked it.
Slimy texture.
If the texture of your chili has changed, try finding something else to eat. A layer of slimy film is a good enough reason to toss the food.
If you’re unsure about the status of chili left out all night, check its texture. It is likely spoiled if your chili has a drastic texture change.
How to Store Chili
Avoid leaving your chili out overnight, as it may become a breeding ground for bacteria. There are many ways to store chili so you can reheat and serve it later.
Shallow Containers
Avoid storing chili in a deeper container, like a crockpot. It is best to store chili in more shallow containers up to three inches deep.
When you want to reheat chili, just put it in the microwave or pop it in the oven for a few minutes. Put the chili into a slow cooker to keep it warm until you’re ready to serve it.
Freezer Bags
Freezer bags are a great option for freezing chili, so you can eat it at a much later date. For instance, freezer bags will come in handy if you want to store multiple bags to pull out one at a time as needed. You can simply pull it out and put it straight into the microwave for a quick and easy meal.
Meal Prep Containers
If you have joined millions of people worldwide in the craze to meal prep for the coming week, you can store your chili in individual meal prep containers if you are prepping for meals for just you.
If you are prepping meals for your entire family, you can use the larger containers to store a larger amount of chili in the fridge or freezer to serve later in the week.
Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags
This silicone bag is becoming more popular since it is a convenient way to store foods, such as chili. Plus, it’s helpful to the environment since it is washable and reusable. This type of storage solution is a good option if you want to store chili in the refrigerator or in the freezer to be consumed later.
If you are going to freeze chili long-term in glass, make sure the glass is tempered and labeled freezer-safe.
Pyrex Food Storage Containers
Pyrex containers made of a special BPA-free, tempered glass are superb for storing food, including chili.
The best part of using a glass container to store your chili is that it can go straight from the refrigerator to the microwave, so it will be reheated in no time.
How to Reheat Chili Left Out Overnight
There’s nothing yummier than a fresh pot of homemade chili. But chili can also be a tasty leftover after its ingredients have had time to mix and add new depth to the flavor. If you’ve been wondering how to put chili left out overnight to good use, you’ll be excited to know that it can be made into various dishes.
Transfer the chili to a medium-sized saucepan. Your saucepan should be spacious enough to reheat however much chili you plan on reheating. Spray slow cookers and nonstick saucepans with cooking spray to keep the chili from sticking when it gets hot.
For smaller servings, you can microwave a single bowl of chili at a time. Chili loses moisture after being left out overnight, so half a cup of tomato sauce or chicken stock will help return it to its original consistency. Be careful not to add too much sauce or stock, or you could make it soupy.
Using tomato sauce or chicken stock instead of water will prevent diluting the rich flavor of the chili.
If you like extra thick chili, skip this step and simply reheat.
Warm up the chili for up to 10-minutes on medium-high heat. Keep an eye on chili as it warms up, stirring occasionally. When chili begins the bubble continually around the edges, it’s ready to serve.
The chili will be ready to serve when it’s reheated, but you can also leave it to simmer for about an hour to strengthen individual flavors.
Eat warmed-up leftover chili by itself. Once your chili is ready to eat, fill up a big bowl and savor it for a second time. While chili keeps well in the refrigerator, it’s also safe to eat when left out overnight, given it’s not spoiled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you leave chili in the crockpot overnight?
You can cook chili overnight using a crockpot or slow cooker for up to 8 hours.
How Long Can Chili Last In A Refrigerator?
Chili will last for three to four days in the refrigerator.
