To leave a pot of soup simmering while I do the school run?

[ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties]

Am I? It takes me 40 minutes to do the school run...it's a very large pot on a very low gas ring.

It's got plenty of liquid in it...no chance of it drying up.

I know "something could happen" meaning I don't get in to turn it off but DH is due home 15 minutes after me anyway.

What could happen? Could a moth alight on the flames and turn into a flaming, mobile fire-starter for instance? There are no curtains or fabric nearby....the difference in the DC if they are fed IMMEDIATELY when they arrive home is astounding.

"No DD you can't go to the park alone...something could happen".

"No DH, we'd better not go out without the spare key...something could ocurr."

What was the intended tone of these comments, then?

That was HUMOUR love.

Hence the I added. Usually that's plenty on MN to indicate that you're being LIGHT HEARTED.

You misread.

electric oven on a low heat i do all the time, gas, not so much.

Slow cookers are rather cheap if this is something you're going to do a lot of over winter.

Bring to boil, turn off. Make sure lid is fitting tight. If its a good metal pan, theresidualheat will go on cooking it slowly. Works with potatoes, rice, meat stews etc. Quite a money saver once you experiment and know how much to cook before you turn heat off. In the olden days, they would bring pan to boil, turn off heat, and insulate with hay, and it went on cooking.

Oh gosh, I wouldn't, but then I am paranoid about such things.

What about a slow cooker as a safe alternative?

Sorry I mis-understood.

I would be tempted if it had an autoshut off thing - current gas hob has it - if flame goes out gas cuts off...could have got a cheaper one without it but decided this was a good idea.
Older ones without it - no ...
I shared a house with someone with left the ring on unlit in the morning by accident...my other house mate got home to a house full of gas hours later. They phoned the gas people from a neighbours, think they shut off the gas to the house, then they had to open all the doors, then windows and air the house out for a couple of hours..there was some problem with the gas boiler- due to come on but they shouldn't switch it off? Lucky it hadn't come on or something ...anyway a mega hassle apparently.
(I got home after the drama - just went to the pub after work for an hour or so!)

Dorothy that's what I will do! Great advice! Thanks.

Mn is weird...clearly shes poking fun at that little thought we all have in the back of our heads when we wonder if something is a good idea. Lighthearted, innit?

H clap, if you leave it on will it stress you out? Also what about if something untoward happens and you get stuck for longer...i think if you are asking this question you are probably worried so just heat it up when you get in! Hmmmmm soup i might pinch your idea and have that this eve!

For 15 mins?

Yes I would.

I've sat out in the garden for longer than that with something simmering on the hob.

Op said 40 minutes Worra

I got the humour. Metal pot will be fine! Unless it has plastic handles in which case totally not fine.

Chuck a lid nearly on it, oven on 2, shove it in, job done.

And then at least the 'something' has to be a full oven explosion which would've happened whether you were home or not and in fact probably better to happen when you're not there. None of this fireball moth stuff. Which is now on my list of 'somethings', by the way.

Not on a low gas flame, no. I'll leave my induction hob on a low setting, but I never left my gas hob on, when I went out. It blew out, far too easily, unless you had a good, roaring flame.

YABU. I would not go out and leave the gas on no matter how long it is for. Gas is explosive.

Clap if you are really going to insulate it with hay then definitely make sure the gas is off.

Oh and do the school run in ye olde mop cap.

Twice in my life I've done this - by accident. Once I came home to the best pot of soup ever . But I had a rather anxious trip home on the bus after I remembered I'd left it on.

The other incident - earlier one, when I was still living in the parental home - ended less well for the pot. And my brother, who found the burnt out pot, left me a sarcastic note (along the lines of 'Are you trying to burn the house down, basketz?' - then he headed off to his night shift - as a fireman.

you need a slow cooker. Best things ever

Op said 40 minutes Worra

She said her DH would be home 15 mins after she left.

OP clarified that

Add message | Report | Message poster ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties Mon 20-Oct-14 14:38:16
Mandarin no he's due home 15 mins after I get back from school run

Behoove it's just a vegetable soup.....nice one though. It;s lovely with cheese on top and some crusty bread.

Oh right sorry, AnnoyingOrange I misread.

No sorry. The risks of your better delayed etc isnt worth the risk. As other have suggested putting the oven on low instead to keep it warm until you return.