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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To re-heat 4 day old takeaway?

282 replies

Wheninfrome · 08/10/2019 19:54

I'd just like a quick poll on whether IABU or not because I really fancy popping the leftover Chinese food in the oven that we ordered on Friday. I normally have a cast iron stomach so I'd have no problem but DH is less keen.
Opinions welcome Smile

OP posts:
AlkaSeltz · 09/10/2019 09:39

@Hiphopopotamus It's hardly hysteria. This is the official advice on food safety from the BBC:

Reheating
When it comes to eating up your leftovers, how you handle them is key to staying healthy. What to do:

Use up your fridge leftovers within two days.
If you’re taking leftovers from the freezer, eat within 24 hours. Make sure they’re thoroughly defrosted before heating, by leaving them in the fridge or using a microwave.
Reheat food until piping hot throughout. If you’re using a microwave, be aware they do not heat evenly throughout, so take your food out halfway through cooking time and give it a stir.
Don’t reheat leftovers more than once. If you have a big pot of soup, for example, it’s better to take out what you need and reheat it in a smaller pan. Equally, don’t refreeze leftovers. The reason the NHS recommend this is because the more times you cool and reheat food, the higher the risk of food poisoning. Bacteria can multiply when cooled too slowly or reheated insufficiently.
Foods should be heated until they reach and maintain 70C or above for 2 minutes.
Foods to be careful of
Some foods, for example those high in protein, may be more prone to causing food poisoning, but the simple rule is that all leftovers need to be cooled quickly, stored properly and eaten within the recommended amount of time. Having said that, rice is particularly tricky as it can contain a type of bacteria that's resistant to heat. The longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that the rice will become unsafe to eat. Ideally only cook as much as you need but if you find you have leftovers, cool within one hour and store in the fridge. Eat within 24 hours and if you're reheating it, make sure it's steaming hot throughout before serving.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-reheat-leftovers

The OP has blatantly ignored loads of these. She got lucky this time but that doesn't mean it's in any way a good idea to do this, or that other people should do the same.

Mephisto · 09/10/2019 09:47

If it passes the sniff test and it was refrigged then it’s fine.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/10/2019 09:51

But official food safety guidelines are ridiculously conservative. I mostly ignore it and the only time in the last 30 years that I've had food poisoning was from a prepacked prawn sandwich from the work canteen made and sold following all the guidelines about refrigeration, useby dates etc etc.

The way that people on here talk about how someone will get food poisoning if they exceed use by dates or don't follow refridgeration or reheating guidelines bear no resemblence to the actual risk in my experience.

StarlingsInSummer · 09/10/2019 11:16

The OP has blatantly ignored loads of these. She got lucky this time but that doesn't mean it's in any way a good idea to do this, or that other people should do the same.

This. It's like playing chicken on a road and then saying the fact you didn't get knocked down means it's fine to jaywalk.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/10/2019 11:19

Only four days? A week is my limit. No meat though.

Seren10 · 09/10/2019 11:20

Meh I'd have eaten it too.

Hope you enjoyed it OP!

Lowlandlucky · 09/10/2019 11:28

If there is left over rice you will end up with food poisoning. Gravy, rice and seafood are the worst offenders

BarbaraofSeville · 09/10/2019 11:29

It's like playing chicken on a road and then saying the fact you didn't get knocked down means it's fine to jaywalk

Only if you have zero understanding about different levels of risk or seriousness of potential consequences.

BarbaraofSeville · 09/10/2019 11:30

If there is left over rice you will end up with food poisoning

Utter bollocks. You might, but the chance of it happening is fairly low, in my experience of reheating rice probably thousands of times and never getting food poisoning.

daisypond · 09/10/2019 11:31

If there is left over rice you will end up with food poisoning This is not true. I use leftover rice all the time and have never had food poisoning or dodgy tummy ever.

LoseLooseLucy · 09/10/2019 11:35

I'm an absolutely don't eat 4 day old food but I regularly eat rice the day after 😬

mencken · 09/10/2019 11:44

sounds like no problem in the end - but well chancy.

next time, order less. That's how you avoid food waste.

JenniR29 · 09/10/2019 11:50

You probably shouldn’t but I think we’ve all done similar before. I want Chinese food now!!

Wheninfrome · 09/10/2019 12:05

I'm in my 50's and have never had food poisoning and re-heat food all the time - admittedly not 4 day old takeaway before (this was a new record in our household)
I always use the oven rather than microwave and never ever had a problem.

I guess I inherited some bad ass 💪 stomach lining from my ancestors 🍗

OP posts:
longwayoff · 09/10/2019 12:20

That's revolting. 4 day old reheated Chinese takeaway? No, horrible. Regarding the rice, friend worked in a boarding school where a huge amount of rice was cooked on Monday. Used throughout the week in various meals until Saturday. Nobody died or got ill as far as I know but I suspect rice kept overnight and reheated is likely to be ok. I wouldn't do it though.

MadameForest · 09/10/2019 12:23

*If there is left over rice you will end up with food poisoning

Utter bollocks.*
No it isn't, if you go on any food hygiene course they teach you that rice needs to be refrigerated asap after cooking to avoid dangerous bacteria developing. The longer it is left at room temperature, the more dangerous it is for reheating and eating. OP put hers in the fridge quickly so no problem.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 09/10/2019 12:35

Well fair play to you OP - are you going to try for 5 days next time?

(BTW you're not quite out of the woods yet - these things can take 24-36 hours apparently. But I am rooting for you)

BarbaraofSeville · 09/10/2019 12:45

Madame

Yes, I know there is a risk from rice, but that does not translate into 'you will get food poisoning'. You might but it is very very far from will.

Wolfiefan · 09/10/2019 13:01

It’s not just what the OP did. The restaurant may have cooked and reheated the rice already. I wouldn’t risk it.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 09/10/2019 13:03

I also have a theory .... it’s the wine. I’ve found, over the years, that people who enjoy a glass or four of wine have a much better constitution than others.

Katiepoes · 09/10/2019 13:09

I've just done exactly that - had four day old Pad Thai for my lunch. I do this all the time, with noodles or rice and never had an issue. Leftovers go in the fridge, if it smells okay then it gets eaten. Usually that's the next day but as with today it can be a few more. If you don't want to risk it fair enough but the gasping and announcing you WILL get sick is a bit much.

]]]

agododopushpineapple · 09/10/2019 13:13

Bravo op 👏👏

On a separate note - can anyone here confirm that they have ever got food poisoning from rice? I know everyone bangs on about it but Have never heard of anyone actually getting ill irl.

zonkin · 09/10/2019 13:16

I too would have reheated the takeaway. Agree with OP that there was some hysteria.

nmc99 · 09/10/2019 13:19

Posted this before but will post it again, everyone in my family has been heating up takeaways days passed since the 80's never once have any of us become ill.

frogsoup · 09/10/2019 13:57

I used to live in the far east and their approach to rice/reheating would have some people on here needing smelling salts. Very standard to leave in rice cooker overnight (no fridge, despite tropical heat!) then next day just eat it at room temperature. There were many other ways the grim reaper felt near there (traffic, malaria), but I never felt he was hovering over the rice Grin.

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