To put warm food in the fridge?

[MKCH]

I ordered a Chinese takeaway and have only eaten the starters. Greedy guts here with eyes bigger than belly (and a minimum order value for delivery).

I haven't even opened the chow mein or chicken in satay sauce.

AIBU to just put them straight in the fridge and put the fridge on a rapid cool?

I want to go to bed in preparation for my DD inevitably waking up and screaming in two hours.

They are still warm - very warm. Warm enough to eat.

Leave them to cool in the containers and put them in the fridge when you get up in 2 hours.

@StarryStarrySocks

Leave them to cool in the containers and put them in the fridge when you get up in 2 hours.

Incorrect.

The quicker food is cooked, the less time it spends in the danger zone for bacterial/toxin growth.

Microbiologist here.

If you're going to be up again in two hours anyway, then I wouldn't. Leave them out, and put them away later.

Now actually this could work, as then it would be Sod's law that this is the night she decides to sleep through.

But now I've said that she definitely won't, so still a good idea.

Cooled*

Leave to cool before putting in fridge as the heat from them will warm up your fridge and the other stuff in there.

Yes it would be fine to do this as long as it's not too close to any other food.

It's been proved that putting warm food into the fridge doesn't significantly raise the temperature so isn't dangerous. You just make sure the warm food isn't touching the cold though

Just stick them in the fridge. I never think of things like this.

Fridge = cool

Do it

@GetTaeFuck

Cooled*

Glad you clarified - I was very confused for a few seconds Good to know it's ok to put it in fridge if still warm. I tend to do that.

Run a couple of inches of really cold water (chuck some ice cubes in if you have them) in the washing up bowl and stand them in there while you get ready for bed. Then put in the fridge as the very last thing you do before going up.

Put them in the fridge away from other food. Cooled fast is best , it’s a myth that you can’t put hot food in fridge.

@gettaefuck
Thanks, i've often wondered, that's really useful to know. 👍

i don't put big hot things in but takeaways or small portions...i do them about so they are far away and the cold gets them before their heat melts everything else.