Fridge not sealed overnight

[wingingit1987]

I’ve just noticed noticed my fridge was closed but not sealed overnight. We just did a big shop yesterday so I don’t want to bin everything but I’m scared I give everyone food poisoning. Everything is cold to touch, although maybe not as cold as it would normally be.

Do I bin the lot?

Can't comment on the meat or fish as I'm veggie but the everything except that will definitely definitely be fine.

Thank you!

the fridge thermostat would just make the motor kick in so your fridge has been working overtime costing more to run. If you want to be over cautious I would eat/cook anything like meat or fish earlier than the date. Did you hear the fridge motor running more than usual?

I’ve done this. I didn’t even think about it. Just pushed the fridge closed when I realise in the morning and continued with my day…

You say it was cold to the touch so it was closed enough for the light to be off? Touch the items nearest the light , how do they feel? It doesn't take long for our fridge light to heat up if the door is left open slightly by mistake and I have had to throw things from that shelf before as they were also warm to the touch

I would definitely bin: poultry, fish, cream, soft cheese, anything pre-cooked or ready-prepared, bagged salads.

I would keep: milk (it may have gone off but that will be easy to tell), eggs, hard cheese, margarine, vegetables, fruit (unless ready-prepared).

I would not know what to do with: red meat, butter.

Why? It was closed, just not sealed. The fridge just works harder so it stays cold. The door wasn’t wide open. Nothing needs binned.

Blimey!

I wouldn't do anything, I'd just close the door and go about my day!

You do know Eggs do not need refrigeration for a start?

I would just shut the door properly and carry on, and have done when this has happened to me.

The only ill effect has been the extra electricity the fridge has used because it has had to work a bit harder.

Hmm, I throw away all my food away having driving home from the supermarket if its a hot day, just in case it has got a bit warm.

(I've lost quite a lot of weight this summer.)

Yep, that's why I said I'd keep them.

Op think about open refrigerators in shops etc? It's only recently that shops are using fridges with doors in the UK. It costs less to keep fridge cold if the door is closed.
The worst thing that could have happened is that the compressor on your fridge has burned out trying to keep the fridge to the right temperature.. If you hear it start up it's working

You say everything is still cold to the touch - then I would just close the door properly and get on with my day.

I don’t think the light was on- as I don’t think fridge was open enough for it to be on. But the items near the light aren’t warm or anything like that.

I didn’t notice the fridge motor sounding louder or anything. I wouldn’t have noticed at all except the door felt like it opened “easier” if that makes sense? I noticed a bit of condensation near the vents when I looked in fridge too.

I work in food safety. At work, I’d bin everything, because rules. At home, I’d shut the door and forget about it, because reality.

I wouldn’t even think about it.

Thank you all

Does your fridge not display the temperature? If it doesn’t have a screen or show the temperature you could buy a fridge thermometer that you leave in the fridge so if this was to ever happen again you’d know what the temperature is and whether the food is ok or not.

It doesn’t have a temperature display but I’ve just ordered a thermometer off Amazon. Thank you