aibu to worry about food poisoning.

[Boobyroof]

I've just arrived at my mil with dds 4 and 1 for dinner tonight. She cooked a chicken at lunchtime and has just left it on the side. So it's been there for about 4 hours and won't be served for another hour. I feel really awkward about this because I am not comfortable about eating it, she will be very offended if I mention it, but I would always cool the chicken and get it in the fridge asap.
Aibu to be concerned, or am I being over cautious? Thanks

It'll be fine.

I agree, it will be fine.

I'm quite paranoid about food safety but that wouldn't bother me at all. It will have been cooling down so too hot to be in the fridge anyway.

Oh ok, I feel a bit better thanks, I'm always very cautious. I thought you weren't supposed to leave it out past 2 hours.

I wouldn't eat it! If I'm cooking a chicken to eat later I carve it and spread it out so it cooks quickly then put it straight in the fridge.

That's what I'd of done too. How would you cool it quicker?

Borogoves, that's what I do! Oh no

It will be absolutely fine.

You should never put hot food in your fridge, it raises the temperature and puts everything else in there at risk as its all now too warm.

It's fine, it doesn't suddenly turn lethal because its been on the side.

It'll be fine!

I don't put it in hot, I cut in up so it cools quickly and get it in the fridge within the hour.

My background is food safety,

I recommend cooked food to be left out no longer than 4 hours. Alternatively; placed in the fridge after it has cooled down.

Can you politely suggest it goes in the fridge?

Absolutely no problem. That's pretty standard in our house.

Standard here.

Thanks Ellie, she's in the kitchen cooking now and hopes to serve about 6ish. She'd probably say there is no point in putting in the fridge, I'm going to suggest I carve it now. I don't want to sound hysterical, it's just I have had a very bad bout of food poisoning and really can't afford for me or my children to have it, I've had recent stomach surgery.

Well my pil aren't ill either so I'm probably overreacting. They do similar with the Christmas turkey, they turn the oven off and leave it stored in their all day!!

It'll be fine

Ask her to pop it in microwave for you. I've done same with mil when she served cold food left out. Will kill nasties

There all day, not their sorry

I would try not to worry, 4 hours is strict for food businesses serving food to the public. I would say that this does leave a little room for 'error', therefore if it is left out a little longer I do not think you will suffer from food poisoning (assuming no cross contamination has occurred)

Enjoy your meal and try not to worry!

I know how you feel, i recently travelled to Asia, where locals often leave cooked meat out of the fridge over night ( sometimes several nights) and it is not regulated the same as over here! I tried to not let it ruin my meal, but it was still in the back of my head

Also; as a general point reheating only kills bacteria.

Mycotoxins can be produced ( often produced in rice left out) which cannot be destroyed by heat. Therefore microwaving the food would not prevent you from becoming ill.

I wouldn't worry about that in this case- just thought I would add a bit of extra information for anyone that would be interested

I wouldn't eat it or let DC eat it.

I would politely tell her she is risking food poisoning. Google some facts/stats to back it up and stand firm.

Good luck!

I'd be more bothered that someone is so poor a cook that they cook food at lunchtime for serving at dinner. So that it is lukewarm and not hot. That's just weird.

Nothing wrong with cooking a chicken in advance.

I have been known to leave a cooked chicken out overnight: last time I had food poisoning was over 20 years ago (and not, I hasten to add, from my own cooking).