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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:
Aluna · 11/10/2025 11:25

It’ll be fine.

Starconundrum · 11/10/2025 11:24

GirlonaCloud · 11/10/2025 10:38

You're basically reheating wheat (same as bread), a cheese sauce and some bacon.

I genuinely don't understand why you're so anxious over this.

Food poisoning tends to come from cross contamination of raw meat (chicken) and other foods, unwashed hands, salad veg, contaminated shellfish, and rice.

You're worrying too much.

Show quote history

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.

Somersetbaker · 11/10/2025 11:23

Are you aware that many of who over 60, grew up in houses that didn't have fridges? We did have a "meat safe" fastened to the wall in our backyard though.

godmum56 · 11/10/2025 11:18

BlueBoatVillage · 11/10/2025 09:41

It was cheese and bacon pasta bake! Argh! No heating on in the kitchen overnight or this morning, normal room temperature

I'd eat that thoroughly reheated and would feed it to older kids and adults. I wouldn't risk it with the usual at risk groups, vulnerable elderly, anyone who is immune compromised, babies although you wouldn't give babies such a salty dish anyway?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 11/10/2025 11:16

Absolutely don’t sorry make a new one

Happyjoe · 11/10/2025 11:11

I wouldn't because of the meat. The ease and saving money of using leftovers is just not worth a bout of food poisoning. That's flipping awful to go through.

Plus, all meat should be kept in the fridge and max about 2hrs out.

Catwalking · 11/10/2025 11:08

Eat it.
It will be fine as it was covered.

LooseCanyon · 11/10/2025 11:07

I would eat it.

ThatLadyLady · 11/10/2025 11:01

Heat it till it’s piping hot and it’ll be fine.

AlexisP90 · 11/10/2025 11:00

If its cheese and bacon i would probably still eat it.
Reheat and I think it would be fine.

Chicken or seafood absolutely not.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 11/10/2025 10:59

I do this all the time, I did it yesterday with a bolognese. It's fine as long as heated through properly.

Bacon has so much preservative in it it will be OK.

HeartbrokenCatMum · 11/10/2025 10:55

Why all the panic… of course it’s fine.

Wednesdaysotherchild · 11/10/2025 10:53

throwawayusrname · 11/10/2025 09:39

I very frequently eat things that have been out all night, no problem at all. Am vegetarian though.

Same

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/10/2025 10:51

I would eat it. Just make sure it's piping hot.

Aquestiontoponder · 11/10/2025 10:48

I'd eat it 😁

Livpool · 11/10/2025 10:47

Cheese and bacon will be fine - especially in a kitchen this time of year. Just heat it up thoroughly

jen337 · 11/10/2025 10:46

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?

I’d eat it, have done so multiple times before no problems. It’ll be fine overnight, and you’d be able to taste it if it wasn’t. Reheat it thoroughly and give it a good sniff. Though I’ve also eaten stuff like this cold too.

AutumnWreath · 11/10/2025 10:46

I think nowadays and with homes now much warmer than they used to be you are right to be concerned . However if meat free , and others have suggested heat fully and should be ok .
When I was a kid , and living in a old non centrally heated home , at Christmas time with a full fridge , my parents would use the oven as a storing place for the cooked Turkey . It would be used up over the next 3/4 days and never went in the fridge !
How we never got ill , I'll never know Envy😱

cramptramp · 11/10/2025 10:46

Yes. I’d eat it if it had been there for 2 days.

user1492757084 · 11/10/2025 10:46

I'd eat it.

Happyher · 11/10/2025 10:44

It will be fine. We didn’t have a fridge when I was little and my mum often left things out on the kitchen table for next day or day after. Home baked apple pie was left out till it was gone. We never suffered from eating it

TheAlcott · 11/10/2025 10:44

You're massively overthinking this, OP. It will be completely fine. Just nuke it until it's bubbling and enjoy.

Mantari · 11/10/2025 10:44

TheKeatingFive · 11/10/2025 10:41

Cheese and bacon? Fine. I'd eat it.

Me too. If it was mince or chicken, no.

KateBushAgain · 11/10/2025 10:42

No , because of the meat .

TheKeatingFive · 11/10/2025 10:41

Cheese and bacon? Fine. I'd eat it.