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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this isn’t going to poison us?

21 replies

DesMartinsPetCat · 12/05/2019 16:47

I cooked a chicken casserole last night. It was delicious. I bought two breasts, two thighs, and four drumsticks but didn’t want to cook all of it so just used two breasts, one thigh, and one drumstick.

We ate most of it, and now there’s a (cooked) breast leftover along with the veg and casserole sauce. It’s been in the fridge since it cooled last night. There’s a lot more sauce and veg left than I planned- too much to just have as leftovers for one, but not enough chicken for more than one person (except the usual MN brigade who think a breast or chicken per person is the height of gluttony).

If I take out the cooked chicken and put it aside, brown the rest of the raw chicken, add that (raw chicken) in to the sauce and put in the oven, adding the (kept back) cooked chicken back in in enough time to heat through thoroughly, will that be ok?

OP posts:

BogglesGoggles · 12/05/2019 16:48

No, you need to cook it.

MyCatHatesEverybody · 12/05/2019 16:48

Why wouldn't it be ok?

lilabet2 · 12/05/2019 16:52

No, you need to cook the raw chicken fillets through completely first.

I think you could slice the raw fillets into chunks, pan cook thoroughly and completely and then add them to the rest of the casserole or just bulk the casserole out with cooked vegetables.

Original poster

DesMartinsPetCat · 12/05/2019 17:00

No, you need to cook it

But it will be cooked? The raw chicken will be cooked in the sauce (night brown it in a frying pan first), then the chicken that was cooked last night will go back in in time to heat through.

OP posts:

KnickerBockerGlooooory · 12/05/2019 17:02

Yes, brown the raw chicken so it's mostly cooked and chuck it in the oven with the sauce for 25 mins. Add the cold cooked chicken 5-8 minutes before it's all ready to come out so it heats through.

The cooked chicken is safe to eat cold, so of course it's ok to just heat it through.

Fingermoose · 12/05/2019 17:04

Yep, I agree with you, as long as the raw chicken is cooked and it, along with the sauce and cooked chicken, is all properly hot you'll be fine.

adaline · 12/05/2019 17:04

I would cook it properly first if it were me.

Houseonahill · 12/05/2019 17:05

So long as all chicken I cooked (and the sauce and everything piping hot) before being consumed it will be fine

IncrediblySadToo · 12/05/2019 17:05

I wouldn’t. I’d cook the fresh chicken separately to make sure it’s thoroughly cooked, heat last nights dinner separately and then serve them together.

...but I’m vegetarian and I’d be paranoid about the meat being cooked properly. I’d be doing all of this with a gun held to my head though, as I don’t buy or cook meat.

LoafofSellotape · 12/05/2019 17:08

As long as the raw chicken is cooked right through and the rest is heated through completely then yes it'll be fine.

Bamb00 · 12/05/2019 17:09

I would thoroughly cook the raw chicken through while heating the sauce and then combine it all. If you add the "browned" chicken (ie not completely cooked) to a refrigerated sauce, it could take longer than expected to cook through to the middle... Just not worth the risk. Just shove the sauce/leftover casserole in the oven, cut the breast into inch cubes, pan fry until cooked 100% through and add to the sauce, cook until piping hot. No chance of anyone getting ill, and won't take more than 30 mins.

Purpleartichoke · 12/05/2019 17:10

Bake the raw chicken first. Then chip it up and add it to the main dish.

Bamb00 · 12/05/2019 17:11

Just realised it's chicken on the bone left over... I dunno, maybe just cook it separately and add it to the sauce. I wouldn't chuck browned chicken on the bone into the cold sauce as it will take forever to cook...

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 12/05/2019 17:20

Sounds fine.

H2OH20Everywhere · 12/05/2019 17:22

Chop raw chicken and cook thoroughly in pan. Add chopped cooked chicken and sauce, bring to boiling. Put in oven.

IHateUncleJamie · 12/05/2019 17:24

No. Cook the raw chicken separately and properly, especially on the bone. Heat up the cooked chicken in the sauce.

Aquamarine1029 · 12/05/2019 17:27

The raw chicken needs to be cooked thoroughly before you add it to the sauce.

Original poster

DesMartinsPetCat · 12/05/2019 17:31

The raw chicken needs to be cooked thoroughly before you add it to the sauce

But why? (And I appreciate I asked the original question but this is the bit that’s making me question myself!)

OP posts:

Cwtches123 · 12/05/2019 17:34

Can someone explain WHY they are saying that they would fully cook the chicken before adding it to the sauce? Why wouldn't you cook the raw chicken in the left over sauce?

Bluetrews25 · 12/05/2019 17:38

You don't have to cook the raw chicken apart from the sauce! Just chuck it in the sauce and boil up the lot in a pan on the hob. Cooked is cooked! As long as it is fully cooked, there is no problem whatsoever doing it in the sauce.

IHateUncleJamie · 12/05/2019 17:48

Cwtches because when chicken on the bone is cooking, blood leaches from it. If this is in a “raw” sauce with uncooked veg for 1.5 hours, that’s fine, because the sauce and the meat cooks together. If you reheat pre-cooked casserole sauce for 1.5 hours you’re going to get mush.

Much better to roast the raw drumstick/thighs for 40 mins, reheat the sauce gently until it’s piping hot and then serve the two together.

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