The main reason to let the food cool before refrigerating is so that it doesn't bring foods near it up in temperature. If the food is fresh from the cooking (boiling hot) It can safely sit out for an hour or so before putting it in the fridge. If your fridge isn't full and you can put the food on an empty shelf, you don't actually have to wait.
The USDA says -"Place food into shallow containers and immediately put in the refrigerator or freezer for rapid cooling." See Related Links
Unless the chicken has been maintained at 140° or above after cooking has been completed, it should be refrigerated within 2 hours. One hour is even better.
This is a bit of an unusual question -- so a clarification is necessary. The wise guy in me says that "food should be refrigerated until you want to eat it!"
The question should be, 'how long should food be safelyrefrigerated'. That's all -- and the answer to the question is refrigerate until used, and if it spoils dispose of it!
I would only refrigerate any food of mine for up to 3-4 days.
The best case you should refrigerate right away. This keeps the food out of the danger zone. Which keeps food safer to eat.
After it cools
Cooked buffalo meat should be good for 3 to 4 days refrigerated.
Half-cooked applesauce can be refrigerated. It cannot preserve for long, however.
Chicken and rice soup should be good for 3 to 4 days refrigerated.
If the food has not cooked long enough to be thoroughly cooked through, or as browned as it should be, it has been inadequately cooked.
Bacteria can form on food left out after an hour. It is best to refrigerate cooked food as soon as possible to prevent this.
Fully Cooked Bacon, Pepperoni - refrigerate, use within three weeks, got this from the hormel web site.
I would say just 24 hours, not more than that! Explain why fish should be cooked simply and quickly?
Unfortunately, potentially hazardous food (which pea soup is) left out that long should be discarded.
This food should not be left out. Cooked foods should be cooled quickly for cold storage. It can only take a hour for cooked foods to be contaminated.
Cooked chicken should be refrigerated immediately after it is eaten. It should not be left in warm temperatures for more than 1-2 hours.
Cooked chicken meat should be refrigerated as soon as possible after cooking. It can generally be left out on a counter for an hour. Usually for as long as it takes to eat dinner. It should then be put away.
Yes as long as you refrigerate the turkey after it is cooked. The remains should be refrigerated within two hours. If they have been unrefrigerated for a longer period, be sure to re-heat them thoroughly before serving leftovers.