A question about leftover pizza

[Amzey]

Forgive me, as this post may be the ultimate in fluff, but I was wondering something. Whenever we get pizza, I always wrap my leftovers in foil and put them in the fridge. My roommate, however, says her family always just leaves whatever pizza is left over on the counter in the box for up to a few days and they just eat it right out of there. I find this kind of icky because I always thought it wasn't a good idea to leave dairy products sitting at room temperature for days. Do other people do this? Am I just some sort of germ freak? hehe

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

Ick! I don't even like how pizza looks after sitting out for a couple of hours...I couldn't even imagine a couple of days! I must confess though, I LOVE cold pizza! I'd be the person to order a pizza and stick the whole thing in the fridge and then eat it..LOL

 

[disykat]

I'm a big fan of refridgeration. I would eat it if it sat out for an hour or so, but after that I'd consider it garbage.

My inlaws don't refridgerate anything (well they do when they think about it - hours or even days later) and it gives me fits.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

My DH NEVER puts it in the fridge and it drives me crazy!!! I don't think its healthy, especially if there are meat toppings on it. I let him eat it, but the kids can't unless I've put it in the fridge...and of course Dr. Atkins says I can't eat it at all

 

[imgoingtodisney]

always in the fridge -
sometimes in the box, sometimes in foil - depends if I want to get rid of the box

 

[loki]

for Atkins you can eat the toppings...perfectly fine..just make sure to have in mind that the cheese/veggies tomatoe sauce does have some carbs....just dont eat that crust

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Sometimes we put it in the fridge, but most of the time we leave it on the counter. Leftover pizza doesn't last more than the next morning at my house.

Here's a dumb story ....

When I was younger ... much younger ... my parents left for the weekend, and my girlfriend spent the night. We ended up getting pizza, and the next morning we wanted some leftover pizza, so we heated it in the oven - box and all. We didn't know at that time that a cardboard box would catch on fire in an oven!

I guess it took awhile for common sense to catch up to me.

 

[Serena]

Refrigerate.

Your roomates family must have iron stomachs.

 

[The Sweetness]

Slices get individually wraped in foil them put in the fridge to go in the toaster oven later (micro does bad things to pizza ((IMO))) I never leave stuff out for more than a day. And thats just cookies or biscuits etc

 

[browneyes]

Your roomies family take too much of a risk with their health! They need to refrigerate! And if the pizza has meat, always reheat.

 

[grinningghost]

Mary Jo, your post made me laugh and reminded me of the "Pizza Soup" my cousin and I made as little kids. We got up really early in the morning, grabbed leftover pizza and a bunch of other "ingredients" (I do remember bullion cubes being one of them) and cooked them on the stove. Man, did I get in trouble for that! I was grounded and couldn't go trick or treating that year. I never played with the stove again.

Our pizza usually sits overnight, but is also gone by mid-morning the next day - usually as DH's breakfast.

 

[shep]

We always refrigerate..

 

[Lynn CC]

We refrigerate it then pop it in the oven on toast when someone want a piece. DS eats it for breakfast before school.
I have gone into some bakeries that leave it out on the counter for customers to eat at room temp. I wouldn't buy it like that, nevermind leaving it out for a couple of days.
I don't think your a germ freak,

 

[TigH]

LEFTOVER????

Which explains why I am a frequent visitor to the WISH board, I suppose!

Pop the leftovers in the fridge. Leaving it out for more than an hour is just too gross! Yuck!

 

[montessori]

A great way to reheat slices of pizza is in a frying pan. The crust stays nice and crisp.
Just my little tip for the day!

(I would never leave it sitting out.)

 

[crazymomof4]

It's a fact that allowing food to sit at room temp. is risking bacterial growth on the food. Certain foods such as those containing mayo. or uncooked dairy products spoil more quickly, but all foods carry the risk. (that is why we see the warning, "refrigerate after opening" on most shelved food items) The bacteria do not always colonize to the point where eating the food will actually get you sick. That is probably why your friend has a false sense of security. But it's like playing Salmonella-Roulette, you may or may not get sick, you won't know until your face is getting up close and personal with the toilet! To me, it's not worth chancing it. Besides, I like my leftover pizza cold, right from the frig..........for breakfast! A carry-over from my college days.

 

[Amzey]

Oh good, I'm so relieved that I'm not a crazy germ freak - thanks everyone! I'd feel bad telling my roommate to refrigerate her pizza though because she's one of those sugary sweet, always nice people - I think it would actually hurt her feelings.
But I'm glad that I'm right. And hopefully she won't get sick, yikes, we'll see!