HowLongFreshHowLongFresh
Back to FAQ List
🛡️Food Safety

How Long Can Cooked Hamburgers Be Left Out at Room Temperature?

HowLongFresh ExpertJul 24, 2025

Key Points

  • You can safely leave cooked hamburgers out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture
  • Cooked burgers that have been sitting out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded
  • The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked ground beef is kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F

Overview

You can safely leave cooked hamburgers out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture. Cooked burgers that have been sitting out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded. The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked ground beef is kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F. To prevent foodborne illness, try to refrigerate the cooked burgers as soon as you can. You can safely keep cooked hamburgers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days; they’ll also keep well in the freezer for at least 2-3 months.How Long Does Raw Ground Beef Last in the Fridge? Is Raw Ground Beef OK If It’s Turning Brown?Long-Lasting Produce Stock up and enjoy Your Questions Answered Steak that's changed color

Key Points

  • You can safely leave cooked hamburgers out at room temperature for two hours -- or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- says the United States Department of Agriculture
  • Cooked burgers that have been sitting out for longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour above 90° F) should be discarded
  • The reason is that bacteria grow rapidly when cooked ground beef is kept at temperatures between 40° F and 140° F

This information applies to: beef, chicken, cranberry, eggs, ground beef, hamburger, pie, potatoes, salad, shrimp, steak, stuffing, turkey

Tags

cooking expiration freezing leftovers refrigeration safety storage thawing

Related Foods

beef
chicken
cranberry
eggs
ground beef
hamburger
pie
potatoes
salad
shrimp
steak
stuffing
turkey