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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Raw meat should not be uncovered and left in the fridge!!

44 replies

Natalia457 · 18/08/2023 16:29

Ok... hoping very much that the majority of people agree with me and I am not being hysterical as per my OH's suggestion!!

BBQ tomorrow... he is currently marinating chicken which he wants to leave in the fridge overnight in a baking dish... with no lid, no cling film etc. I've told him this is gross and not appropriate food hygiene... he thinks I am being over the top (which to be fair I can sometimes be a little precious!)

I'm right though surely? Would you leave uncovered anything in the fridge?

I like everything covered or in airtight containers/ziploc bags...he never covers anything. And the raw meat has driven me over the edge!!!!

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 18/08/2023 16:30

I leave it uncovered. Not killed me yet

Marwoodsbigbreak · 18/08/2023 16:32

Butchers leave meat uncovered in their fridges. I think there’s a scientific reason why it’s better…

VeridicalVagabond · 18/08/2023 16:33

I don't think I'd bother for just one day.

Wenfy · 18/08/2023 16:33

I think this depends on the size of the bowl; his overall hygiene and how often the fridge is cleaned. I don’t usually cover marinating meat in the fridge either - but I am meticulous about hygiene.

DuploTrain · 18/08/2023 16:34

It will make the fridge smell garlicky (or whatever is in the marinade).

It will dry the chicken out (defeating the point of marinading)

And it’s icky.

dementedpixie · 18/08/2023 16:34

Marwoodsbigbreak · 18/08/2023 16:32

Butchers leave meat uncovered in their fridges. I think there’s a scientific reason why it’s better…

But butchers likely only have meat in their fridges whereas domestic fridges will have non meat items and therefore there may be cross contamination. I cover meat in the fridge too with either a lid or cling film

Cantthinkofausername2023 · 18/08/2023 16:35

I'm not so bothered about cross contamination more that it dries out and goes a manky colour with dry edges on the meat. Yuck. So I keep it covered.

dementedpixie · 18/08/2023 16:35

And yes, the marinade smells will permeate the fridge and can taint other foods e.g. milk

Mrsjayy · 18/08/2023 16:36

If its in a deep dish and not touching anything why does it need to be covered?

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 18/08/2023 16:37

Wouldn't bother me as long as it's in a high-sided dish and the meat is not in contact with anything else.

MyCatIsAFuckwit · 18/08/2023 16:39

At home possibly....at work I would be in for the high jump if manager or Environmental Health visited!

Talipesmum · 18/08/2023 16:41

I would cover raw meat in a fridge that isn’t just for raw meat (eg a butchers fridge). Unless your fridge is very sparse and neatly organised, the risk of someone in our family reaching in and brushing it when fishing out the yoghurt or lettuce or juice is too high! And stuff marinates better if there’s a lid on - stops it drying out (and i find fridges are quite drying).

Other things I’m happy to leave “open” or loose - veg, apples, even the odd large yog pot without a good lid where it just has the peeled back bit loosely popped back over the top. Or if we had eg a bit of leftover quiche and potatoes, I might put it in a tub or I might pop it on a plate or bowl in the fridge if it wasn’t going to be in there more than a day or so.

Kweeky · 18/08/2023 16:42

Surely butchers leave meat uncovered so that customers can see what they are buying.

ScarlettDarling · 18/08/2023 16:42

It would drive me mad too op but I fully admit to being over the top about food hygiene and raw meat is something I’m always very careful with. So as far as I’m concerned you are definitely not being unreasonable!

Cookerhood · 18/08/2023 16:44

I'm not clear how bacteria would leap out of the dish onto other things & as long as it's not dripping on something it should be fine. However, for something in a marinade I would cover it so everything else didn't smell/taste of marinade.

yikesanotherbooboo · 18/08/2023 16:44

I would leave it uncovered at the bottom of the fridge ( salad drawer) but with nothing else in contact or at risk of cross contamination.

Kweeky · 18/08/2023 16:46

Also it dries things out.
Cold air cannot hold much moisture.
That's why the air con comes in your car - to stop the windows steaming up.

Devilsmommy · 18/08/2023 16:49

Yanbu, raw meat in a fridge is supposed to be covered

SweetAndSourChick3n · 18/08/2023 16:50

Wouldn't worry me as long as nothing was touching it

Curiosity101 · 18/08/2023 16:55

Agree with others. So long as the raw meat can't/won't touch anything else then it's okay.

I wouldn't do it in a commercial kitchen (too much risk of someone knocking/touching/moving it somewhere unsuitable). But at home, I would 100% leave meat to marinate in a deep-sided dish uncovered overnight.

LoveThisUsername · 18/08/2023 16:56

I've done it when I was being lazy, but it felt wrong. Didn't get food poisoning though.

Margo222 · 18/08/2023 16:59

I would cover it

SM4713 · 18/08/2023 17:01

I would cover it for the reasons others have said:

  • to prevent the marinade smell permeating other items like cheese/milk
  • to prevent the chicken drying out
  • if I dropped something from higher shelf, it would just fall on the cling film/lid and not inside the raw chicken tray
Wishitsnows · 18/08/2023 17:01

Should be fine uncovered