Food poisoning paranoia!

[Excellente]

Have guests coming tomorrow for lunch. Made two Bologna’s sauces, one mince and one vegetarian. Made them at 6pm and left to cool on the hob (covered so no contact with flies). They still weren’t cool enough to place in fridge half an hour ago so I immersed the pan in cool water and now they’re in the fridge. The kitchen isn’t particularly warm (shaded part of house and tiled). I’m now paranoid about food poisoning. Would you still serve this tomorrow? I might add that I am scrupulously clean when it comes to kitchen hygiene but the hours rolled by and I forgot about them and was surprised to find them still warm. Shall I make a fresh batch? I don’t want to give 20 people food poisoning!

Excuse autocorrect of bolognese!

I am sure someone will tell you you are going to kill everyone instantly but I think that’s totally fine! Overnight I would be funny with but that, nah you’re good.

I wouldn't even think twice about it. It is fine.

I've read somewhere that having to cool food down before putting in the fridge is a myth. Not 100% sure though.

I wouldn't worry at all, I'm sure it will be totally fine!

Thanks everyone 😂

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It should be fine my husband forgets about stuff he's cooked all the time. It hasn't been a problem for us so far.

Reheat properly, microwave is not good apparently, it needs to be heated on the hob or in the oven for a good length of time. I also read somewhere recently to put warmish food into the fridge not to wait until it has cooled.

@TrudeauGirl I didn’t think it was about food and more about heating up the fridge and then it having to use far more power to cool down again. I may be totally wrong!

Putting warm food in the fridge warms the fridge up so not ideal.

I wouldn't worry st all about this. As long as it's heated up properly before serving it will be fine.

Next time though I would decant into another container to cool quicker. I do that with our leftovers every evening. But even then I often cook at 6, and don't put the leftovers in the fridge til bedtime.

I didn’t think it was about food and more about heating up the fridge and then it having to use far more power to cool down again. I may be totally wrong!

Ohh that does make sense Haha never thought of the fridge temp

Beef is one of the least susceptible meats to food poisoning - it can safely be eaten raw - what you have done sounds perfectly safe.

It will be fine. The thing about putting warm food in the fridge is about changing the temperature of the fridge if you have other high risk foods in there. Food needs to kept under 5 degrees for storing in a fridge and over 73 degrees when reheating. Putting warm food in a fridge may cause a rise in temperature in the fridge. Holding high risk foods between these temperatures for any length of time will allow bacteria to multiply. Ok sermon over.

Thank you! House is spotless now so didn’t fancy re-making all that!