How Long Can Gumbo Sit Out?

Gumbo is a type of stew prepared using different varieties of meats and seafood with heavily seasoned sauces or gravy. It is rich in nutrition and protein and is very liked by the people who regularly consume it.

Like any other food, it is important to store Gumbo properly to sit out for a longer time, and it is good to consume. The following article details all the methods to store the stew.

How Long Can Gumbo Sit Out?

The products used in Gumbo preparation might be shelf stable, but when you cook them, their shelf life is reduced. If you are living in hotter regions, then your Gumbo will not stay fresh for more than three hours at normal temperature, but it can stay fresh for more hours in a region where temperature is cold.

If you store the Gumbo in the refrigerator, it can stay fresh for many days, but its freshness will be lost when you will use it again. Freezing Gumbo can also extend its shelf life up to months, but we don’t recommend it.

What Happens If Gumbo Sits Out Too Long?

Having a short life, you should never leave the Gumbo out on the countertop if you live in the hotter regions. It will not take much time to spoil as the bacteria grow very quickly in the cooked items at higher temperatures, and once it starts forming, the food will not be the same as before.

Gumbo’s color, smell, and texture will change, and it will spoil if you leave it out at higher temperatures for a long time.

How Long Can Gumbo Be in The Car For?

It is recommended not to take the Gumbo in your car to a destination that takes much time to reach. Like, the Gumbo cannot last for more than a couple of hours at room temperature.

However, if the car has an air conditioner, it can keep your Gumbo fresh for some time but still not that long.

What Should You Do If Gumbo Is Left Out Too Long?

Sometimes, you leave the food items out and forget to store them in suitable conditions, which ends up spoiling. If you have mistakenly left the Gumbo on the countertop and found it after a couple of hours, then it might not be a good sign for the Gumbo.

First of all, you must check its smell and texture. Unfortunately, if it smells bad, you will have to discard it at once as it has spoiled. But if it seems to be fine, you must use it at once, and if you don’t want to use it, you must quickly transfer it to the Best Undercounter refrigerator.

Does Gumbo Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

Yes, the Gumbo will go bad if you will not keep it in the refrigerator as it provides a cool and calm temperature to the food items and helps to keep their freshness alive. Moreover, the shelf life of Gumbo will also boost if you store it in the Best Counter-Depth Refrigerator.

We suggest you use the Gumbo right after its preparation when it is fresh and at its peak quality because if you use the refrigerated Gumbo after some time, it will not be fully fresh as it was before.

Does Gumbo Go Bad If You Lose Power?

Storing the Gumbo in the refrigerator will extend its shelf life to some extent but not for a very long time. If you lose power and the refrigerator in which you have kept the Gumbo turns off, it might affect the quality and the freshness of the soup.

If it happens, the first thing you should take care of is to keep the refrigerator door closed because if you open the door, the temperature inside the refrigerator will increase, and it will start affecting the freshness of the Gumbo. But unfortunately, if the refrigerator is kept off for a long time, the soup will spoil within a couple of hours. You may look for other cool places to save the soup from spoilage.

What Temperature Is Safe for Gumbo?

Any temperature below 5 degrees Celsius is best for any soup. So, if you are living in hotter regions, then you must use the Gumbo as quickly as possible. Never leave it out if the temperature of your surroundings is more than 20 degrees.

Sources

• Ehow
• tv
• LiveStrong