Does lemon meringue pie have to be kept in the refrigerator or can it
be left out at room temperature for a day? I want to buy pies in the
morning and serve them in the evening, and I won't have refrigerator
space for them in the meantime.

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 26 Feb 2005 22:16 PST

Hi kderevan,

Please let me know if this answers your question:

"After only a few hours at room temperature, the crust of my lemon
meringue pie turned soggy."

Allrecipes: The Perfect Recipe
http://perfrec.allrecipes.com/features/11.asp


"...Refrigeration makes meringue weep more quickly, so let the pie
stand at room temperature in a draft-free spot before serving it.
After a few hours, however, it will need to be refrigerated."

iVillage: How to keep meringue pies from getting soggy
http://home.ivillage.com/cooking/technique/0,,38f7,00.html


Best regards,
Rainbow

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Clarification of Question by kderevan-ga on 26 Feb 2005 23:33 PST

I need to know if leaving it at room temperature for 10 hours or so
will make it unsafe to eat or otherwise affect it adversely.

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 27 Feb 2005 01:49 PST

Hi kderevan,

It all depends on whether the meringue is made from powder or raw eggs:

"...Also, do not store cakes and pies that contain icing, filling, or
meringue made with eggs or dairy products at room temperature."

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/food/pubs/fcs451.pdf


"T ? temperature Pathogenic bacteria can grow in temperatures from
40-140°F but they grow best in the 70-110°F zone. In this temperature
range, pathogens may double every 20 minutes. No wonder so many people
get sick from temperature-abused foods! Hot foods should be kept HOT
(above 140°) and cold foods COLD (below 40°).
T ? time Because bacteria can double so quickly, time is ascritical as
temperataure. Remember the two hour rule??Do not hold foods at room
temperature any longer than two hours.
(...)
Frostings made with meringue powder are acceptable."

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/4H3023.pdf


This may interest you:

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nutrition/348-014/348-014.html


Waiting to hear your views.

Best regards,
Rainbow

---

Clarification of Question by kderevan-ga on 27 Feb 2005 09:12 PST

Yes, I think that answers it--thank you!

Hi kderevan,

I'm glad the information I provided answered your question. I will
re-post it here for your convenience.

"After only a few hours at room temperature, the crust of my lemon
meringue pie turned soggy."

Allrecipes: The Perfect Recipe
http://perfrec.allrecipes.com/features/11.asp


"...Refrigeration makes meringue weep more quickly, so let the pie
stand at room temperature in a draft-free spot before serving it.
After a few hours, however, it will need to be refrigerated."

iVillage: How to keep meringue pies from getting soggy
http://home.ivillage.com/cooking/technique/0,,38f7,00.html


Whether it is unsafe or spoils depends on if the meringue is made from
powder or raw eggs.

"...Also, do not store cakes and pies that contain icing, filling, or
meringue made with eggs or dairy products at room temperature."

NC State University - Family & Consumer Sciences: Keeping Food Safe to Eat at Home
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/food/pubs/fcs451.pdf


"T ? temperature Pathogenic bacteria can grow in temperatures from
40-140°F but they grow best in the 70-110°F zone. In this temperature
range, pathogens may double every 20 minutes. No wonder so many people
get sick from temperature-abused foods! Hot foods should be kept HOT
(above 140°) and cold foods COLD (below 40°).
T ? time Because bacteria can double so quickly, time is ascritical as
temperataure. Remember the two hour rule??Do not hold foods at room
temperature any longer than two hours.
(...)
Frostings made with meringue powder are acceptable."

Iowa State University - Extension 
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/4H3023.pdf


This may interest you:

Virginia Cooperative Extension: Nutrition
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nutrition/348-014/348-014.html


Search crietria:
"lemon meringue pie" "room temperature" hours
"lemon meringue pie" "room temperature" refrigerate day
"lemon meringue pie" "room temperature" unsafe 
"lemon meringue pie" unsafe OR spoils
meringue "room temperature" spoils
powder meringue "room temperature"

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,
Rainbow

I left a lemon meringue pie out on the countertop overnight once. It
was very weepy, the crust became soggy with the liquid from the
weeping, and the filling and meringue separated. In all, it was pretty
yucky.

One year at Thanksgiving a lemon meringue pie was left out the night
before. My grandma didn't know that it had to be refrigerated.Well on
thanksgiving day almost everyone had a piece. Nothing looked wrong
with it. By the end of the night everyone but 2 of the people who ate
it was sick.

Be really careful about leaving *any* pie unrefrigerated for 10 hours
at room temperature. People remember food poisoning for a very long
time!