According to food safety guidelines, perishable foods like cooked chicken should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Bacteria can grow rapidly at temperatures between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
If you have cooked chicken that has been refrigerated, and you want to eat it, it's best to take out only the portion you plan to consume and leave it at room temperature for a minimal amount of time. Ideally, you should consume the chicken within two hours of taking it out of the refrigerator.
If the cooked chicken has been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, it's safer to discard it rather than risk foodborne illness. Reheating the chicken does not eliminate all potential risks associated with leaving it out for an extended period.
Always handle cooked chicken and other perishable foods with proper food safety practices to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses. When in doubt about the safety of a particular food item, it's best to err on the side of caution and dispose of it.