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Original poster

Help! Wtf do I do with my casserole?

25 replies

Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:27

We are having people over for dinner tomorrow night so I've made the food tonight as I get home from work about 30 mins before they arrive (yes, poorly organised - my fault).

I've just made Nigella lamb stew and it's been cooking for 2 hours, just stuck it back in for a bit longer as it doesn't look done. Recipe says to refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking if you're making it ahead. It's really hot so I can't put it in fridge now and head to bed, can I...? I'm not staying up until midnight to wait for it to cool down. What do I do? If I leave it out all night will I poison my guests??

Yes I'm an idiot and I'm not cooking for anyone ever again after tomorrow...

OP posts:
Atalune · 07/05/2019 22:28

You can leave it to cool overnight. It’s fine. No one will die

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:28

Would putting it outside be totally wrong??? I'm knackered I just want to go to bed and now I've got to clean the loo. I hate entertaining!!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/05/2019 22:29

Just stick it in the fridge when you get up. It'll be fine.

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Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:29

Really? Kitchen quite warm, terrified of giving people dodgy tum. Do I just leave it out on the side?

OP posts:
chickywoo · 07/05/2019 22:30

Just leave it out and put it in the fridge in the morning, it'll be fine

VanGoghsDog · 07/05/2019 22:30

I would just put it in the fridge, put something under the dish so you're not putting a hot pan on a glass shelf.
Do it after you've cleaned the loo.

TheCrowFromBelow · 07/05/2019 22:31

Don’t put it outside it could get eaten
It will be fine on a windowsill or cool part of the kitchen, put in fridge tomorrow and reheat throughly.
Leave loo until tomorrow.

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:31

Excellent! Thanks for the reassurances!!

OP posts:
violeticecream · 07/05/2019 22:32

I would say it will be perfectly fine to leave out overnight and then in fridge first thing in the morning.

AdaColeman · 07/05/2019 22:33

Tip it into a clean bowl.
Stand that bowl in a washing up bowl of cold water and ice cubes.
By the time you have cleaned the loo and had a drink, it will be cold.
Put it in the fridge.
Go to bed.

Livedandlearned · 07/05/2019 22:33

Don't put it into the fridge or you'll heat up the inside of your fridge and potentially spoil of that food.

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:34

Right need to find a cool-ish spot. Kitchen is roasting as I've been crashing about in there making loads of stuff. Made a crumble too, will just leave that out with the casserole

OP posts:
FigaroSiFigaroLa · 07/05/2019 22:36

It will be fine on the stove to cool down. Put it in the fridge first thing in the morning. I have done it loads of times as I batch cook of an evening when everyone’s in bed. You won’t give anybody a dodgy tummy. Promise.

happyhillock · 07/05/2019 22:36

It'll be fine pop it in the fridge in the morning

Drizzlehair · 07/05/2019 22:40

I had this with pork stock last night. Tipped it to and from two metal bowls standing in washing up bowl of cold water. Cooled it in about 10 "min

Or outside will be cooler than inside

PomDeNlume · 07/05/2019 22:40

Alternatively if you have a garage you could put it in there as it's likely to be colder. But personally, I'm a renegade who would just leave it on the stove top and think nothing more of it!

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:43

Put it in conservatory as it's Baltic in there, will move to fridge in morning

OP posts:
runoutofnamechanges · 07/05/2019 22:47

I wouldn't leave it out overnight (over cautious biologist). Put it in the shallowest clean pan you have that will fit in the sink - roasting pan/frying pan/big saucepan and stand it in cold water. If you've got ice, add that. It will cool down enough to go in the fridge by the time you have finished cleaning the loo.

Alternatively, depending on the temperature where you are, over night outside (and securely covered obviously) is probably better than sitting on the worktop inside. You are want a temperature of less than 5 C.

Surfingtheweb · 07/05/2019 22:50

My brother is a chef & he says to put food straight in the fridge. Leaving it to cool down is when bacteria breed. So that's what I do with all my stuff & it always tastes great.

Hecateh · 07/05/2019 22:51

We wouldn't be here today if refrigeration was the only thing keeping us alive.

Curries were 'invented' to disguise rancid meat.

Keep it as cool as you can and refrigerate in the morning

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 07/05/2019 22:57

Right I'm leaving it in the conservatory- went with the majority Grin
Cleaned the loo to a low standard and now I'm off to bed! Thanks to everyone!!

OP posts:
runoutofnamechanges · 07/05/2019 23:04

@Surfingtheweb it's perfectly fine to put hot food straight in the fridge as long as it isn't so hot that it cracks the glass shelf... and if it doesn't heat the temperature in the fridge to above safety levels. So it kind of depends how big your fridge is and what else is in it/near it. An empty fridge or one with salad and wine, or a huge American style fridge with several feet between the warm food and anything delicate are all fine. A teeny tiny under counter fridge with raw meat and jars of mayo next to the pan is a recipe for @Diorissimo1985 needing to clean her loo rather a lot...

Livedandlearned · 08/05/2019 12:14

We were taught not to put the food straight in the fridge. Cool quickly and then fridge it.

managedmis · 08/05/2019 12:17

So? Did the casserole survive the night?

Original poster
Diorissimo1985 · 08/05/2019 23:17

So it tasted okay and no one appeared to fall ill immediately!!

OP posts:
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