Will my DH have given DS food poisoning?

[BBQbarbie]

We’ve got some cold chicken legs - ready to eat in the fridge. DS (5) said he doesn’t like them cold, my DH decided to warm them up in the air fryer for a few minutes then gave to DS. He’s now eaten them. I’ve come downstairs and he’s told me this and I’m not impressed. DH said because they’re fine to eat cold then it won’t be a problem. But I thought chicken needed to be cooked through to piping hot, even if it’s ready to eat.

Time is significant: it's being at that warm, bacterial-growth period for enough time to multiply in quantities extensive enough to cause illness. The bacteria don't just burst out in vast quantities like a firework when they are above 4 degrees. It's the time period (which is why food can be left at room temp for 2 hours before chilling).

I always get a little confused with this, how a food is ok to eat cold but if you heat it then it has to be piping hot?

It depends on the bacteria. It depends on how many bacteria are present to start with. It depends on how long between the food coming out of the fridge and being eating it. It depends on the immune system of the person eating the food.

Not heating food properly does increase the risk of food poisoning.

This thread is why I'm dubious about eating other people's food!
From the Food Standards Agency,
It is important to reheat leftover food until it is steaming hot throughout to kill harmful bacteria that may have grown since the food was cooked.

Food poisoning is not a given but the only time I've had confirmed food poisoning was from chicken that hadn't been reheated thoroughly enough.

I've just seen your username 🤣

Puppy, perchance?

I remember seeing what I thought was a turd on a Tribal rug , but it was a rolled up autumn leaf... the relief was immense.

In puppy days I have seen a 'roguey' on the rug - one of the downsides of puppies!

Because when it's at the sort of "is it reheated properly...hmm...., well the outside is hot but the middle is warm" stage bacteria has a field day. Similar to partially defrosting something then freezing it again. Or cooking something like turkey that's partially defrosted.

I learned about this when I was about 11 in food economics, don't they teach this anymore?

If you apply that blindly, you can never eat cold food.

A quick Google search explains it all btw

If they are already cooked, they are cooked through - what are you talking about? You can then eat them warm, hot or cold, it makes no difference.

If this thread doesn't turn people into hard vegan, nothing will 😂

A dead chicken which should enjoy their death in peace, but are instead somehow self-aware of their storage and temperature condition and can be awaken at the wrong temperature 😂😂

This is classic

We eat cooked chicken, ham, sausages etc cold.

As long as they were cooked properly and then stored in the fridge afterwards, they will be fine.

Warming them up slightly is no different than taking it out of the fridge and keeping it at room temperature whilst you’re buttering your bread and making a drink before eating it.

Oh thank goodness just asked DS if he'd eat a cold chicken drumstick that was only reheated so it was warm and he said yea cos he'd get 48 hrs off school 🤣

Was getting a bit worried for a min this essential life knowledge tidbit had passed generations by

None of which deals with heating food that is already safe to eat cold.

Yes, I too thought ''Vegan are lucky!''

Except Rice and pasta can be really dangerous, too.

Botulism in rice and a student died because he ate old leftover Pasta.

It was the pasta {Spaghetti} not the beef that killed the poor chap.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/student-20-died-after-reheating-27711193

No I wasn't taught it. I do always heat to piping hot though and have never poisoned anyone so I think I'm OK.
I saw further up someone saying about not reheating chicken at all but they have those cold chicken buffet bits you can buy and they def say eat hot or cold!

Exactly. Supermarkets sell loads of ready cooked meat that you can eat cold so I think the imaginary official food advice saying it needs to be heated is odd

When you make a cold meat sandwich do you make it whilst it’s in the fridge and then eat it with your head stuck in the fridge?

Or do you take it out to room temperature and eat it like a normal person?

When you cook a roast do you make sure everyone eats the meat part first and regularly heat it up during the meal so it stays a consistent temperature?

Or do you just eat it even if it’s cooled down slightly?

@oakleaffy I can't quote you, but... the millions of us using leftover roast chicken (cooked correctly at home and cooled and refrigerated in good time) to make chicken curry/stir fry/chicken and mushroom pie the next day (or God forbid, two days later) are all living dangerously, even if the chicken is reheated to a sufficiently high temperature? My mum is 80 and has been doing this her whole life; I am 57 and have also been doing this since I started cooking for myself. No one has had food poisoning from it. In fact my mum served turkey and ham pie to 15 every Boxing Day for as long as i can remember. Pretty sure reheating leftovers has been a thing since leftovers existed. My mind is boggling.

@WimbyAce - Yes, I was wrong, there..It was me who said you can't ''re-heat'' chicken safely , but as it was a second re-heating , it seems it's safe to do so if piping hot- The barbecue packets do indeed say ''Eat hot or cold''. 👍

Not reheating to piping hot is risking food poisoning:

www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-reheat-leftovers

If this was the case, a lot of bacteria would wake up the moment you ate anything and put it in your lovely warm body.

Anything that can be eaten cold can be taken out of the fridge, warmed to your preference, and eaten. It’s leaving it around at room temp that will cause problems.

You are right -it should be re-heated to at least 75c in the middle.

But it will probably be ok. DH will know the next time.

It is not leftovers - it is ready to eat

I'm surprised so many don't know this.

I agree, basic food hygiene and I’m surprised that so many people here don’t know that.