I boiled a chicken and refrigerated it but forgot to refrigerate the stock left out overnight. Is still safe use in soup or should you throw out?

Bacteria grows rapidly in cooked food that is left at room temperature, and chicken is a particularly perishable food.

1. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that all cooked chicken, including broth or stock, be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking. This is because bacteria can multiply quickly between 40°F and 140°F, which is the temperature range known as the "danger zone."

2. If the chicken broth was left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, it is best to discard it to avoid the risk of foodborne illness.

3. Even if the broth does not smell or look spoiled, it is not worth the risk of consuming potentially harmful bacteria.

4. To avoid this situation in the future, it is important to refrigerate all cooked food, including chicken and its broth, promptly after cooking. You can also store the broth in the freezer for longer storage.