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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

aibu to worry about food poisoning.

57 replies

Boobyroof · 01/07/2016 17:05

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

OP posts:

Silvercatowner · 01/07/2016 18:25

If it is properly cooked then no danger at all - the chicken will be more or less sterile when it comes out of the oven. I would cover a chicken if it was cooling, but apart from that fine to cool in the kitchen until it is cold enough not to raise the temp in the fridge.

user1467101855 · 01/07/2016 18:25

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

You can't be much of a cook if you've never heard of re-heating food!

Silvercatowner · 01/07/2016 18:26

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

Cold chicken??? Yum.

Original poster

Boobyroof · 01/07/2016 18:30

We haven't eaten yet, I'm silly to be nervous!!! But too scared to say anything

OP posts:

user1467101855 · 01/07/2016 18:33

It's just a chicken, its not a bomb! Eat it and stop being silly.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/07/2016 18:34

It's not even a hot day if you're in the UK, you'd have to leave it out to cool before putting it in the fridge anyway and that's quite a long time.

CopperPot · 01/07/2016 19:17

Is it covered?

Original poster

Boobyroof · 01/07/2016 19:31

It was wrapped in foil and was still a bit warm. I may be silly, but as I said I'm overly cautious after very bad food poisoning.

OP posts:

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/07/2016 19:32

It's cooking it thoroughly or reheating you really need to worry about. If it had been out on a baking hot day and then all night, not so good.

CopperPot · 01/07/2016 20:07

I think if it was covered it's fine isn't it? Just ask for it to be reheated and it'll be fine. My mum always left food out all niggt and we would just microwave until v hot and was fine.

ConcernedParent88 · 01/07/2016 20:31

Those above who slice it to cool it quicker prior to subsequent fridging are actually increasing the risk of contamination (greater surface area) and drying the meat out more, making it less palatable.

Post Christmas we've had cold turkey sarnies from a bird too big to fridge for days after chrimbo. No ill effects.

Ironically I've had food poisoning four times in my forty years. Twice from KFC - only been twice - goodness knows what they get up to. (Oysters other two)

Bambooshoots14 · 01/07/2016 20:47

I'd be mortified if anyone said they wouldn't eat my chicken I'd cooked
At lunchtime. I think you're being hysterical

Borogoves · 01/07/2016 21:35

ConcernedParent - how is cutting the chicken up and increasing the surface area going to increase the risk of contamination? I keep the meat covered so no flies or anything land on it. Is there another way it can be contaminated?

JaceLancs · 01/07/2016 21:41

What on earth do any of you think we did before we had fridges?

Betrayedbutsurvived · 01/07/2016 21:42

Food safety is my job. I'd eat it.

SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo · 01/07/2016 21:47

Covered in foil isn't good. It would prolong the time it was at the critical temperature at which bacteria multiply the fastest. If you're cooling it it should be cooled as quickly as possible. I wouldn't eat that chicken!

Borogoves · 01/07/2016 21:58

No, I don't cover in foil I cover with a food cover like these. www.lakeland.co.uk/p50521/Pop-Up-Food-Covers

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/07/2016 22:41

I cover with a clean tea towel which then goes straight in the wash. I wouldn't use foil.

Before fridges houses had cold concrete larders,food wasn't just left out on the side for days.

I'd have still eaten it though.

JudyCoolibar · 01/07/2016 22:44

It'll be perfectly OK

CopperPot · 02/07/2016 09:11

Did you eat it op?

saoirse31 · 02/07/2016 09:52

Agree with prev poster re Turkey being left out for days and eaten!!! With no problems. I think your mils chicken sounds fine, hope you enjoyed it.

FurryLittleTwerp · 02/07/2016 10:13

If it was thoroughly cooked it will be fine. Assume it's covered?

Assume she's doing some sort of cold meal - if she's going to reheat it by pouring hot gravy over it then that would be very odd.

As for pre-slicing for rapid cooling, doesn't that just dry out the meat?

SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo · 02/07/2016 10:31

It was wrapped in foil and was still a bit warm. That's the worrying part, still warm several hours after cooking, so the bacteria will have had several hours to multiply. Food should be cooled as rapidly as possible, not left to linger with the most favorable conditions for bug growth.

Birdsgottafly · 02/07/2016 11:11

It'll be fine, it's only a worry if the kitchen is very hot, which is why Caterers have stricter rules. The kitchens that they are working in are hotter and have more danger to cross contamination.

However OP, you've come through Stomach surgery and there's nothing wrong in just saying to your MIL that you have to be more careful, than usual (just in case there's another issue).

Have you been in pain, feeling sick etc? I can see why you would value wanting to be/feel well, above eating something for the sake of it.

I've had severe Gastroenteritis, for two years afterwards, I was really careful, I'd had enough of not being well, so I can understand why you are cautious.

Original poster

Boobyroof · 02/07/2016 12:11

Hello all, thanks for replies.
I know it may seem silly to some, but was really just checking, I need to avoid being ill if I can and I know I am over cautious.
Though I was a coward and didn't say anything, it would have offended her and didn't want to do that, but I also didn't eat it. It was still warm when I carved it after nearly 6 hours and couldn't bring myself to. She didn't notice as it was a help yourself meal. My children didn't really touch it, they preferred the rest of the meal thankfully and no ill effects.

OP posts:

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