Safe to eat

[Amazingday]

I slow cooked chicken stew yesterday. Ate around 8pm and plated the rest into tubs to freeze. Left it on the counter top to cool down and put into freezer. Woke up this morning and I forgot to putting in the freezer.

will it be safe to freeze? Been in a sealed container on a counter top in a kitchen that is room temperature. Or throw it away!

I wouldn't eat it, sorry. There's plenty of others who will say it's fine, they leave stews out for days etc (?) but the science here would definitely say that's too long in the 'danger zone' and bacteria will have multiplied to potentially unsafe levels.

I personally wouldn't eat it after 12+ hours at room temperature, it's the danger zone for bacteria for that long - I think I couple of hours is the max recommended?

I'm sure lots of food hygiene posters will come along with horror stories but it wouldnt occur to me that this was even a question.

I have no idea how that fits with the voting options though

If you put lids on it when it was still warm I absolutely wouldn't eat it.

Given it was pretty humid overnight (here anyway) I'd not risk it

I wouldn't, not if you've left it covered at room temperature overnight. Unless of course it was really tasty and you are willing to risk some rather unpleasant food poisoning

I'd eat it

Think I am going to chuck it. Such a shame. It was pulled chicken with black beans and was lovely!!

I'd eat it...in fact where do you live it sounds lovely 😂

I would probably still eat it.

I do dislike the now-common use of the word “plated” like the chefs say, but surely in the case you should use the word “tubbed” not “plated?”

I'd eat it

Thanks. It was left over stuff that needed to be used up. It was very nice! Gutted I forgot to freeze it. Randomly I did put today’s portion straight in the fridge. So at least I get to eat it tonight.

I'd eat it , freezing will kill lots of bugs and heating thoroughly later will see of any remaining ones

Oh no - don't throw it away !
Freeze and reheat thoroughly

I would but make sure it's piping hot throughout for 2-3 minutes so reheat on the hob not in a microwave. Done this many times and never an issue provided you reheat as stated

If it wasn’t chicken, in fact meat of any kind but particularly chicken, I would risk it. Chicken is too scary though (I’ve had chicken-related food poisoning and would hate to repeat that!! 🤮 )

I'd eat it.

Grew up without a refrigerator so have eaten all sorts of things that the Mumsnet Food Police wouldn't approve of!

I'd eat it. But then I don't hold with best before or use by dates either.

I have done this many times over about 30 years with no ill effect whatsoever. I reckon the risk is better than the awful waste but I wouldn't probably serve to a vulnerable person.

The one time I messed up was on a road trip in the West of Ireland. I always like to roast a chicken first day at holiday cottage to get measure of stove and also feel all comfy and at home.

Stopped in a butcher along the way ( he probably saw me coming) l bought a big chick, then had further time to travel than I thought and no cooling, so chick put in oven later than anticipated.. cue 24 hrs hot and cold shivering and d and v. That was stupid obviously.

But never ever had a problem with cooked meat as you describe