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AIBU?

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Original poster

Oh god have I poisoned myself?? :(

136 replies

arghstupidmistake · 18/07/2022 20:40

Please be kind. I'm severely emetophobic and my anxiety is sky rocketing because I think I've just given myself food poisoning.

Basically - cooked mince on Saturday, put it in the fridge cooked. On Sunday added it to a lasagne and reheated in the oven when I cooked the lasagna. There was left over lasagna
(and this is where I was stupid😫), so I put in the fridge on Sunday. Just heated it up in the microwave tonight for my tea. I ate just under half before I realised my mistake - ie eating mince that has technically been reheated twists after cooking.

I'm going to get poorly arent I? 😭 I'm really scared.

OP posts:
craftsupplyhoarder · 18/07/2022 22:02

I wouldn't heat the whole dish repeatedly if I could help it, if only because it's impractical, but I've never been sick because I reheated food twice.

I do this with rice, too, actually. Cook rice, freeze leftovers. Remove from freezer and make fried rice. Chill leftover fried rice, then reheat to finish it the next day. I've never had food poisoning, that I'm aware of, and I've always heard that if you have food poisoning, you'll know it.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 18/07/2022 22:03

OP seeking reassurance from strangers isn't going to help your anxiety- i know that cos I did it. Please get proper help.

Original poster
arghstupidmistake · 18/07/2022 22:05

Twindow · 18/07/2022 21:59

Even if you are ill, won't it just be a bit of diarrhea? What's so horrific about mild food poisoning?

Mild diarrhoea doesn't worry me. I'm scared of being sick.

OP posts:
Original poster
arghstupidmistake · 18/07/2022 22:06

Thatswhyimacat · 18/07/2022 21:59

The reason why they say not to continually reheat things is because it increases the possible amount of time the food has spent either unrefrigerated and cooling or not cooked to a hot enough level. Do either of those multiple times and bacteria might grow significantly enough to cause food poisoning. There isn't something magic about a second reheat that makes it worse, you could get food poisoning if you don't reheat properly the first time and you could freeze and cook something half a dozen times with no issues.

Ahh see I didn't realise this, thank you for clarifying. I always thought there was something specifically bad about a second reheat!

OP posts:
Original poster
arghstupidmistake · 18/07/2022 22:07

Littlefucker · 18/07/2022 21:52

Reassurance seeking - especially from those who have no idea if you’ll get sick or not - doesn’t help emetephobes. Are you getting proper help?

I'm on a waiting list for therapy.

OP posts:
Cannotmakeadecison · 18/07/2022 22:08

Don’t worry OP. I do all of this and way worse. Regularly leave food out overnight (if too warm to go straight in fridge) and reheat from room temp next day. Also regularly eat lukewarm reheated food if I can’t be arsed to get it piping hot (even chicken) never had food poisoning. You’ll be fine!

Eyesopenwideawake · 18/07/2022 22:19

Can you remember when and how your phobia began?

Navigatingnewwaters · 18/07/2022 22:20

My DD has been phobic of vomit since she was 2, I feel for you.

WaveyHair · 18/07/2022 22:21

tootiredtobother · 18/07/2022 20:45

it's cooked rice you have to be careful with, left too long it grows a fungus, that you cant see

I can 100% confirm cooked rice is much more risky and can give you salmonella. Never had any issues with mince no matter how many times it was heated.

Cashewwws · 18/07/2022 22:39

I am severely phobic too, all my life, so I really really do sympathise and it’s awful when things like this happen!

First of all, your mind may play some tricks on you. It may make you think you feel poorly when you actually feel fine - triggering off anxiety, which can also present physical symptoms such as feeling sick, bad belly. You are not ill!

Secondly (I’m vegetarian) my DP does this alllllll the time and he is always fine. I promise you! The chances of you getting sick from this are really minimal. When I was at uni, people did much, much worse with their food and no one ever got ill in our house.

On a practical note, please PM me if you need to talk! I also have a name of a very good therapist who specialises in emet. I went to see him last year and it was helpful. Also can recommend a few books and podcasts if you’d like.

Im sorry you have to go through this. It really is awful and very few understand how tough it is xxxx

BlueBellsArePretty · 18/07/2022 22:51

I used to be terrified of being sick especially the thought of it happening in public. It's not helped by the fact that when I'm anxious I tend to feel sick. My doctor prescribed cyclizine which is very effective at clearing feelings of sickness and it stops sickness too. I rarely take it but just knowing that I've got it if needed has really helped.

WestIsWest · 18/07/2022 22:55

tootiredtobother · 18/07/2022 20:45

it's cooked rice you have to be careful with, left too long it grows a fungus, that you cant see

I’d also suggest being more careful with chicken or pork. I think beef and lamb are less likely to make you ill and I’ve reheated lasagne twice many, many times.

TheLassWiADelicateAir · 18/07/2022 23:29

CallOnMe · 18/07/2022 21:01

I’ve done this loads of times and I’ve never been poorly.
I didn’t actually realise you shouldn’t!!

You do have to be careful with rice but o always reheat rice and it’s absolutely fine!

I only found out about rice recently. I'm 63, been re-heating rice and anything else that was leftover, with no ill consequences whatsoever.

TheLassWiADelicateAir · 18/07/2022 23:34

oakleaffy · 18/07/2022 21:48

@arghstupidmistake
Reading the replies-
My son makes Chilli con carne and it’s always nicer the next day when properly heated up.
so cooked, cooled stored in fridge then re- heated A day later.

Chilli, spag bol, stews and casseroles are all much better the second day. In fact I've always taken it that if you're planning properly you're meant to make them on the assumption they will sit for a day.

HangingOver · 18/07/2022 23:44

I often do this with the refrigerator part 😄

HangingOver · 18/07/2022 23:44

Without*

Tryhard87 · 18/07/2022 23:47

I do this all the time, have never ever had food poisoning. Hope you are okay!

SteveHarringtonsChestHair · 18/07/2022 23:52

I always make a double batch of bolognese, just so I have half the makings of a lasagne for another day. I would happily eat leftovers of the lasagne after than reheated or cold.

The only reason they say not to reheat food several times is that it goes through “the danger zone” as it heats up and cools down, so the more times it’s heated and then cooled, the longer it spends in between fridge temp and oven temp, both of which are extreme enough to kill bacteria.

As long as the food is cooked and cooled reasonably quickly (ie not left out for hours while it cools) and is thoroughly heated through (if microwaving chop it into smaller pieces to make sure the middle gets cooked), You’ll be fine .

I have a food hygiene certificate so I understand this stuff and although I’m always careful if I’m cooking for customers, this wouldn’t worry me at all at home.

MarsQueen · 19/07/2022 00:03

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Skodacool · 19/07/2022 00:27

Absolutely not, don’t worry

Bb16103 · 19/07/2022 00:28

Hello! Food microbiologist here. This is safe as long as you’ve reheated to 165 degrees, you’re correct it’s advised to reheat cooked mince only once, however as long as you are sensible & reheat to very hot (165 degrees) you will be fine & in theory you could keep reheating it with no Ill effects. Please don’t worry, a microwave will generally get it piping hot. If you are ever not sure or worried about anything like this in the future it’s a good idea to check out food standards agency website, they generally have q&a sections & you absolutely won’t have been the first person to ask so the answer is usually there! Also it would list any food recalls or safety warnings & to the best of my knowledge there’s nothing alarming happening with mince at the moment.

Mysteryuser · 19/07/2022 00:29

DH always keeps and reheats leftover Chinese takeaway the next day, and has never been ill on the rice subject. Actually, this thread reminds me of the really lovely Quorn spag bol which DS made at school and which I then ate for dinner. It was only after I'd finished that he told me it hadn't been kept in the fridge as they'd apparently run out of room...I was fine, and I'm sure you will be too.
🤗🙄

Mysteryuser · 19/07/2022 00:30

Sorry, emojis should have been deleted...

Sswhinesthebest · 19/07/2022 00:35

I’m happy to reheat beef twice but not chicken or fish. Never been ill.

xxcatcatcatxx · 19/07/2022 00:47

Always do this. Didn’t even know you couldn’t reheat rice until about 6 months ago either.

How are you feeling? Let us know💕 xxx