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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not put my packed lunch in the fridge?

38 replies

Council · 09/12/2017 13:56

If I've make a sandwich or salad for lunch I usually make it the night before and put in in the fridge overnight.

When I get to work, I usually leave in my bag, for several reasons. - The work fridge isn't terribly pleasant, I forget to take it out of my bag, but mostly because the lunch is nicer to eat if it's not fridge cold.

I was told yesterday, that I was risking my health eating prawns that have been out of the fridge for 4 hours.

Surely not? The food is cold when I put it in my bag, the office is heated but not overly warm. The food still feels colder than room temperature by the time I eat it.

OP posts:
ButchyRestingFace · 09/12/2017 13:58

Could you keep it in an insulated cooler bag in the office?

mussie · 09/12/2017 14:00

I very rarely put my packed lunch in the fridge, haven't died yet!

Original poster
Council · 09/12/2017 14:02

I could butchy but then it would be fridge cold when I eat it, which isn't the best way to eat anything. Plus I don't need anything extra to carry Grin

OP posts:
isseywithcats · 09/12/2017 14:02

most other fillings would be ok but i wouldnt eat prawns that have been out of a fridge for four hours, three hours is the recommended maximum time for prawns as they are high risk food for poisoining Maybe in a large plastic tub with a cooller bag block thats frozen yes but at room temp no way

katycb · 09/12/2017 14:03

So if you took out a picnic for the day it would be out of the fridge for several hours and school children's packed lunches arn't kept in the fridge so I don't think you are going to cause yourself any problems with keeping yours in your bag!!!

Bluntness100 · 09/12/2017 14:04

Food poisoning bacteria starts to grow three hours after refrigeration stops, so yes you are running a risk. The longer it’s out the bigger the risk is. It’s really a judgement call, I’d say the risk isn’t huge after four hours, but it’s still a risk.

Bambamber · 09/12/2017 14:06

I use lunch boxes you can put cooler packs in. I'm surprised the fridge at our work hasn't grown legs and walked off now that the same few people have given up emptying it of mouldy food and cleaning it

Tinty · 09/12/2017 14:06

Do you drive to work? It is so cold at the moment you could happily leave your sandwich in the car. It will probably be nearly definitely as cold as the fridge.

Original poster
Council · 09/12/2017 14:08

That's a good point about school packed lunches katycb, especially as so far here there's advice that more than three hours is risky.

Why is it OK for kids' lunches to be left out?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 09/12/2017 14:09

Prawns are probably dodgier than ham or cheese or tuna etc, but unless you are putting your bag down by a fan heater/ on top of a radiator, I suspect you'll be fine.
If you are concerned when the weather gets better then get yourself a little insulated lunch bag.

RandomUsernameHere · 09/12/2017 14:10

Our preschool is the same, they don't have a fridge for the packed lunches. Personally I wouldn't put prawns in the DC's sandwiches for that reason. I would eat them myself if they'd been out of the fridge a few hours though.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/12/2017 14:12

I don't put my sandwiches in the fridge, but then I'm not eating prawns either.

SeaToSki · 09/12/2017 14:12

If it stays below 40f or 4.4c then it is safe to eat. If it goes above that you have 2 hours to eat it before it is risky, 1 hour on a hot day. If you want to be really sure then take a digital food thermometer into work and see what temp they get to.

You can always try a Pack It lunch bag, you store it in the freezer overnight, it has bag walls that freeze and then you just put your lunch in it and go to work.

kmc1111 · 09/12/2017 14:14

I think that's perfectly fine for most things, but prawns I'd put in the fridge.

redexpat · 09/12/2017 14:14

I dont understand the preference for cold sandwiches. They feel wrong when theyve been in the fridge.

Starlight2345 · 09/12/2017 14:15

I agree put an ice pack in..I do in my DS's in the summer.. But would never send him with prawns although we do love a prawn sarnie at home

falange · 09/12/2017 14:17

I don't put my lunch in the fridge at work. Still alive.

crazycatgal · 09/12/2017 14:19

If you're not going to put it in the fridge then I wouldn't recommend taking prawns.

My DM got food poisoning from a prawn sandwich once and she said it's the most ill she's ever been.

Fekko · 09/12/2017 14:21

I usually forget to pop mine on the fridge at work and mine is left in the cool bag. I'm still alive!

BeALert · 09/12/2017 14:27

I put my kids' packed lunches in the same sort of cold bag that I put mine in. If it's warm I put a cooler block in.

JustAnIdiot · 09/12/2017 14:29

I never put my packed lunch in the fridge, unless it's leftovers that are going to need heating up anyway.

Roussette · 09/12/2017 14:29

I'd be doing the same as you OP. Can't stand cold sandwiches

BackBoiler · 09/12/2017 14:32

At work we normally take ours out an hour or so before eating to bring the temperature up.

sailorcherries · 09/12/2017 14:37

I don't put mine in the fridge but don't eat meat or dairy, so have nothing in my bag that could be suspect. I do still either use a cool bag or ice pack and my DS1s packed lunch is either in a cool bag or has an ice pack inside it.

QuiteQuietly · 09/12/2017 14:38

I've never worked anywhere that you could risk leaving your lunch in the fridge without it being nicked by some colleague or client. I have survived. And it was probably good for my gut resilience too.

I did once work with a woman who would throw her lunchtime yogurt away if it took her longer than 30 minutes to drive to work. I ate a lot of free yogurt when there were major road improvement works going on.