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Original poster

To eat this pasta bake tonight?

180 replies

BlueBoatVillage · 11/10/2025 09:30

Argh, made a lovely pasta bake last night and did enough for tonight as well as today is going to be manic so won’t really have much time to cook.

We ate half of it and it was on the side, cooling down. I put cling film over it, with the intention of putting it in the fridge once cooled (as I usually do)

Came down this morning and realised I’d forgotten to put it in the fridge Sad I did so straight away when I realised.

Do you think it would be okay to eat tonight or should I bin it?

OP posts:
Bobiverse · 11/10/2025 12:28

thisishowloween · 11/10/2025 09:54

Reading these threads make me realise how people end up with such high shopping bills if they throw so much edible food in the bin 🙈

Well, I actually think most people just put their food in the fridge instead of leaving it on the counter.

MissingTrees · 11/10/2025 12:27

The pasta itself is the problem, aside from what else is in it.

https://essentialfoodhygiene.co.uk/how-to-store-cooked-pasta-safely-without-risking-food-poisoning/

Think cooked pasta is low-risk? Think again.
Just like rice, cooked pasta can turn dangerous if you leave it sitting around. We’re talking about a real food safety threat here — not just a soggy dinner. That’s because starchy foods (like pasta) are breeding grounds for Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that can cause nasty food poisoning if not handled properly.

When to Chuck It: Pasta Disposal Rules
It sat out at room temperature for more than 2 hours

How to Store Cooked Pasta Safely (Without Risking Food Poisoning) | Essential Food Hygiene

Think cooked pasta is low-risk? Think again. Just like rice, cooked pasta can turn dangerous if you leave it sitting around. We’re talking about a…

https://essentialfoodhygiene.co.uk/how-to-store-cooked-pasta-safely-without-risking-food-poisoning/

marylou25 · 11/10/2025 12:26

It will be fine, bacon not as risky as chicken or fish. Just heat it well.

theswordinthestone · 11/10/2025 12:25

youalright · 11/10/2025 12:08

To be fair people did die very young years ago I don't think we should be aiming for their lifestyle

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Lots of elements of lifestyle then were better than today (other than smoking being prevalent.) Medical interventions, screening and treatments have improved which has increased life expectancy but people actually used to eat more healthily and exercise more than today.

Goldengirl123 · 11/10/2025 12:17

I wouldn’t if it had chicken in it otherwise I would

youalright · 11/10/2025 12:12

Im curious about the posters saying they wouldn't leave out rice but they would pasta they both grow the same bacteria

youalright · 11/10/2025 12:08

theswordinthestone · 11/10/2025 12:04

It will be fine. I think all the post war people who experienced rationing and lived without fridges would absolutely despair of the food waste these days.

To be fair people did die very young years ago I don't think we should be aiming for their lifestyle

theswordinthestone · 11/10/2025 12:06

youalright · 11/10/2025 11:57

All the people saying we didn't have fridges years ago also didn't have central heating. Houses where significantly colder years ago.

There are plenty of people still in the world today living in warming climates than us that don't have fridges and that wouldn't waste perfectly good food.

theswordinthestone · 11/10/2025 12:04

It will be fine. I think all the post war people who experienced rationing and lived without fridges would absolutely despair of the food waste these days.

thisishowloween · 11/10/2025 12:00

youalright · 11/10/2025 11:57

All the people saying we didn't have fridges years ago also didn't have central heating. Houses where significantly colder years ago.

But OP didn't have her central heating on last night.

I regularly leave food to cool in the oven overnight and forget about it, then eat it the next day. That includes meat (never chicken, but sausages etc.), pasta dishes and vegetables.

youalright · 11/10/2025 11:57

All the people saying we didn't have fridges years ago also didn't have central heating. Houses where significantly colder years ago.

Pancakeorcrepe · 11/10/2025 11:53

I wouldn’t even think twice. It will be fine.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/10/2025 11:52

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:29

Which is fine if you're comfortable with it.

A lot of people are very careful with rice though as the food poisoning it causes can be particularly nasty. I'm just pointing out that it's the same bacteria that grows unseen and with no smell on pasta.

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I thought the rule with rice was that you could eat it reheated the next day if refrigerated once cooled but not after that?

Pasta, if you google search it you’re told has 3-5 days after cooking when you can safely eat it, but I always limit to 3.

Thevegetarianchef · 11/10/2025 11:51

Whelangrand this is wrong.
Restaurants and cafes reheat food that has been refridgerated.
Once bacteria have multiplied too much they can produce toxins that cannot be destroyed by heat.
I know some people take huge risks and have been ok.
Others not so much.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/10/2025 11:50

I wouldn’t with meat in it. If veggie then I would have.

LaChouette · 11/10/2025 11:48

I have been doing this all my adult life, never had food poisoning. And this is in a kitchen with an Aga in it.

Thevegetarianchef · 11/10/2025 11:46

Pasta is cheap and as a chef I wouldn't consider eating or serving this.
Bacteria multiply at room temperature so the milk cheese bacon and any eggs in the pasta could make you really ill.
Lesson learned next time get an alarm set on your phone for 90 mins and refrigerate.

BrokenWingsCantFly · 11/10/2025 11:43

I'd eat it.
Have left food for the next day out overnight loads of times accidentally, including bacon pasta. Only thing I would throw away would be a chicken dish.
But my kitchen is the coldest room in the house

TheKeatingFive · 11/10/2025 11:37

Aluna · 11/10/2025 11:26

I’ve eaten cold and reheated rice for approx 35 years and I’ve never got food poisoning.

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Me too

Howszaboutthat · 11/10/2025 11:35

Eat it if you fancy a ‘spring clean’

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:31

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:29

Which is fine if you're comfortable with it.

A lot of people are very careful with rice though as the food poisoning it causes can be particularly nasty. I'm just pointing out that it's the same bacteria that grows unseen and with no smell on pasta.

Show quote history

It is also is a bacteria that produces spores not killed by heat.

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:29

Aluna · 11/10/2025 11:26

I’ve eaten cold and reheated rice for approx 35 years and I’ve never got food poisoning.

Show quote history

Which is fine if you're comfortable with it.

A lot of people are very careful with rice though as the food poisoning it causes can be particularly nasty. I'm just pointing out that it's the same bacteria that grows unseen and with no smell on pasta.

WhelanGrand · 11/10/2025 11:29

people who are saying bin it need to realise what they've been eating from cafes and restaurants for time immemorial. if its re-heated enough to kill off any bacteria you are going to be fine and everyone else should stop wasting so much food as it's terrible for the planet.

wodantimbercoaster · 11/10/2025 11:27

I would definitely eat it. Just re-heat it thoroughly so it's hot all the way through. Would be such a waste to throw it away!

Aluna · 11/10/2025 11:26

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:24

The food poisoning you can get from left out rice is exactly the same food poisoning you get from left out pasta.

Its the same bacteria that grows on both of them.

I would not eat pasta left out overnight.

Show quote history

I’ve eaten cold and reheated rice for approx 35 years and I’ve never got food poisoning.