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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not eat chicken casserole left out overnight?

92 replies

tumpymummy · 15/04/2017 18:50

Help! We have just arrived at MIL's house for Easter weekend. She is getting dinner ready which is a chicken casserole. However she has just said that she made the casserole yesterday and has left it on the hob for 24 hours! Hubby asked why she hadn't put it in the fridge after making it? She says it was because she couldn't lift the pan (too heavy with casserole in) and that it will be fine!!! I dont think it will and would never normally eat chicken that hasn't been refridgerated. I have said to hubby that I am not happy eating it, but he says we have to so as not to offend her after she has been to all this trouble. She also had the heating on today so it's not as though her kitchen has been cool all day. What do I do?!

OP posts:
notanothernamechangebabes · 15/04/2017 19:16

We often leave that sort of thing out. It'll be fine. Especially if lots of wine or tomatoes in the dish - the acidity makes it a poor environment for bacteria.

CherylVole · 15/04/2017 19:16

oh stop being so precious ffs

LostMyDotBrain · 15/04/2017 19:17

There were ways of keeping things cool before fridges...it's not like we only experienced cold drinks in the winter before they were invented! Larders with special shelves, etc. Cellars are usually cool even in the summer. Might not be below 5° but certainly much safer than room temp.

Crispbutty · 15/04/2017 19:17

Any salmonella will have been killed off in the initial cooking anyway.

StealthPolarBear · 15/04/2017 19:17

It's fairly recently that people have had central heating though and double glazing.
oh and people used to die younger ;)

LostMyDotBrain · 15/04/2017 19:18
  • in the summer
AdoraBell · 15/04/2017 19:18

Don't eat it. We did once, inadvertently. DDs were about 5 at the time. DD2 stopped puking at 5am, and DD1 started puking at 5.30 am.

Eating it the next day is fine it it's been properly cooled and stored in the fridge, then related to piping hot to serve.

MuncheysMummy · 15/04/2017 19:20

I'd eat it no probs at all as long as reheated until piping hot. I often leave things in the slow cooker overnight (switched off) if still too hot to refrigerate when I go to bed. Rather that than things put in the fridge hot still. Let's be honest most likely worst case scenario is being a bit loose tomorrow hardly the end if the world!

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 15/04/2017 19:20

If it's been covered since it was hot and in a fairly cool room, I'd be happy enough.

Ricecrispies16 · 15/04/2017 19:27

I wouldn't eat it. Not if it's chicken. I would pretend to feel unwell and then pick at the non chicken bits then pretend to be gutted I didn't get to eat it Grin

needastrongone · 15/04/2017 19:30

Yep, I'd eat it, thoroughly heated. I think folk are pretty sensitive about stuff like this. DH often takes the leftovers from the previous nights dinner to work for his lunch. He's happy and healthy. I would do the same.

NotNowNow · 15/04/2017 19:32

It's really definitely NOT ok to eat it. Chances are that it would be ok but there is also a chance that it would give you serious food poisoning.

BlueSkyBurningBright · 15/04/2017 19:33

I did this the other day. I took the chicken casserole out of the oven, and forgot to put it in the fridge before I went to bed.
I did put it in the fridge in the morning, then heated it up in the evening. It was fine and we are too.

PuntCuffin · 15/04/2017 19:34

I'd eat it. I spent my entire childhood eating food left out like this. In a kitchen with an Aga, so always warm. I am 45 and have not had food poisoning yet.

mirime · 15/04/2017 19:36

I don't know.

When I was growing up my mum would often leave stuff out over night like chicken curry (including the rice) and I'd eat it the next day and was never ill from it. Unless we were in the middle of a heatwave though my mums kitchen was relatively cool.

As an adult I must admit I'm a lot more careful, but dh is at greater risk than most of needing a trip to hospital if he has a stomach bug or food poisoning.

newtlover · 15/04/2017 19:37

I think it all depends if has been covered or not and left undisturbed.
Presumably it was cooked at a fairly high temp for quite a long time, that would have killed any bacteria. Provided it was left covered whilst cooling, and no body came and poked it with a (possibly dirty) spoon or spatula, it would not have been contaminated and should be OK. I'd still want to be sure it was thoroughly re heated for a good period of time though.

Lepetitmarsellais · 15/04/2017 19:41

I wouldn't eat it but then I'd probably die from awkwardness.

MrsHughesCarson · 15/04/2017 19:41

I would eat it only if thoroughly reheated.

Fortheloveofscience · 15/04/2017 19:41

On Friday we roasted some chicken legs as well as cooking dinner, forgot about them then only found sat am so they'd been left overnight in cooling oven. The chicken went in the dog I decided I couldn't eat it.

Screwinthetuna · 15/04/2017 19:43

Awkward...I wouldn't eat it. I'd probably risk it if it was beef (for myself, not kids) and just pick out the meat but not poultry.

If you've eaten it and want some reassurance, my nan used to cook a chicken breast and then store it on a plate in her cupboard for lunch the next day as she said it went tough in the fridge...Confused

fourteenlittleducks · 15/04/2017 19:44

I wouldn't eat it. I'd gently explain why. An awkward evening is far better than weeks of salmonella hell!

candlelit35 · 15/04/2017 19:44

Another one who would eat it and I'd say I was quite particular Hmm

Mum used to cook a huge stew on a Tuesday morning and it'd be left in the oven once cooked. We'd help ourselves to a portion in the evening, and again the next evening, and give it a quick zap in the microwave- without it ever being refrigerated.

SuperRainbows · 15/04/2017 19:46

What did you do?

Trb17 · 15/04/2017 19:46

I'm more cautious after having campylobacter food poisoning a few years ago. Worst illness I've ever had Sad and food health people said it was likely from chicken. Had to fill in a form about where I'd been/eaten for last two weeks. So now I treat chicken with a healthy level of 'not worth risking that again'.

PickAChew · 15/04/2017 19:47

Urgh no.

And before fridges, people had colder houses and tended to shop almost daily.