Takeaway ordered 5 hours early and reheated - AIBU to think that's weird?

[ImaginaryLobster]

My dad has invited me, my sister, my partner and his brother round to my parent's house for a Chinese takeaway tomorrow.

He messaged me on Sunday asking if I can "let him know the sort of stuff we’d like for Thursday… before Thursday if possible." When I asked what he meant, he said he plans to go to the Chinese takeaway on Wednesday, or as soon as it opens on Thursday (3pm), get everyone's food then, and reheat it later in the oven. He's just now asked me again what everyone's having so he can do the order.

The place doesn't have a website or proper menu - just a blurry photo someone posted on Facebook a couple of years ago, which I now have to screenshot and send around to everyone. I’m chasing people up for their orders, and they’re asking why can't we just order when we get there? I don't know what to say.

My partner is taking me and his brother there, and my sister lives with them, so we'll be there at the same time. We're getting there for 8pm.

If you're thinking, why not just say something, I can't, because he's asulking lunatic. Another factor is that I'm pregnant, and I'm wondering whether I should be eating reheated Chinese food? I get that he's trying to be organised and probably doesn't want to mess around with waiting times in the evening, but isn't this a really awkward and unnecessary way of doing it?

AIBU to think it would make more sense to just be normal and order when we arrive? Part of the fun is discussing it and also being able to share stuff. My partner and his brother will definitely hoard whatever they've picked, nobody'll be touching their carefully selected items (technically I should already know what they're having apparently!!)

Or do other people do this too? Should we make our takeaway choices with military precision days in advance, and then wait while it slowly dies in the oven.

It's where he messaged on Sunday commanding I get everyone's order

This is exactly the kind of thing my dad would have done 😂Once he asked me to print off instructions for his sky box put them in the post for him because he sent the engineer home before he could explain how to use it. He sent the engineer home because he was 'disturbing him' but obviously he then didn't know how to use his Sky box so thought nothing of inconveniencing me to try and resolve his self-made issue.

I know people do reheat Chinese, but it's already been reheated at the takeaway and definitely shouldn't be again! Would be a hard to from me 🤢

Another one who has suffered from eating reheated rice. Please do not risk any of this while pregnant. I assume it will all be kept in the fridge before reheating? It all sounds bonkers.

Not hot! Wait for it to cool and then straight in fridge. It's about not letting sit at room temperature.

Normal in rural areas, my in laws get takeaway from 200 miles away occasionally flown in, I was even tempted for a treat to mail food in dry ice.

I do think giving him your order in advance is sensible but I’d be picking it up at 7.45!

Look I get it it's weird. In his head he's trying to do a nice thing. Can you just take your own food say something to with the pregnancy?

‘If you put rice in the fridge when it arrives hot’

You were not at all clear.

Sorry, yeah I didn't mean piping hot. Just as soon as it's cooled reasonably. Most takeaways don't really arrive that hot anyway.

Sorry I'm not trying to poison anyone!

I’m all for re-heating left overs the next day but it honestly never tastes as nice as it did when fresh so I’d not be happy with this arrangement. Especially if you are expected to pay towards it.

That said I also agree 8pm is late to be sorting out food, by the time you’ve all arrived, settled, chosen, ordered and been to collect it’s likely to be 9pm before you’re eating possibly even later if your relying on delivery. Thats very late to be eating, and you won’t be finished for close on 10pm. I’d be starving and pretty much ready for bed at that time, especially if I had work the next day which I assume being a Thursday many will be?

I think you’d all be better arriving at around 6pm that way you can relax, order food when everyone is there and be eating for 7-7.30pm. DB can use the day before to call in and pick up some proper menu’s.

As someone who ate Chinese including reheated rice when pregnant this wouldn’t really worry me but people are correct even without being pregnant you are supposed to be careful in regards to cooling and storing cooked rice so it may not be something you wish to risk.

I have reheated rice millions of times in my long life and never had an issue. You do need to be prompt with refrigeration though as you are correct in that the issue with rice is in the cooling not the reheating. It needs to be cooled rapidly.

Have to say I probably wouldn’t risk it when pregnant though OP. Can you take your own food on this occasion. Blame medical professionals - say your midwife has said that you shouldn’t eat reheated food or something?

Just tell him to order on the evening and pay the small delivery charge !

Ok, it’s a bit weird. But actually a good idea, orders can take ages to arrive at peak time if you’re unlucky.

I work in a bar and all the takeaways in out village is closed when I finish so my partner will get me a pizza to heat up sometimes. They are always ok but takeaways are always better fresh. He could ask to put he's order in and it to be delivered at a certain time.

My parents and grandparents used to do this to be organised. Never the day before though! I’ve eaten microwaved Chinese lots and that was always fine texture-wise but would worry things would dry out in the oven - never heard of a noodle dish in the oven but I guess balls or prawn toast would be crispy.

Of course you can eat reheated rice, fried rice recipes always suggest using day-old rice for the best texture. Just get it cold as fast as possible and reheat until piping in the centre. I redid my food safety and hygiene training last week, it’s not reheating that’s the issue, it’s improper storage and inadequate cooling

Surely the best way is to get the order sorted, then 'phone it through at, say, 17.00 & ask for delivery at 20.00 ?

Rice can only be cooked 3 times before it is unsafe. Once when it is originally boiled, then once if its fried, then once more when its reheated. So if you were to reheat it, it should technically be okay, but it depends what the chinese is like, if they are properly cooking and storing it, and not reheating it themselves, it would be okay. I stick it in the microwave the next day and never had any issues, but if you're pregnant, personally I wouldnt want to risk it. I do also think this whole plan it a bit odd in general, surely the food isn't going to taste as good if its reheated, and sounds like a faff if there are a lot of people to cater for.

My mum who has worked in kitchens most of her working life will reuse and reheat a massive range of foods. She will never reheat rice because of the risk of food poisoning. NHS say: With rice, make sure it's cooled within 1 hour and then goes straight in the fridge or freezer.
Rice kept in the fridge should be eaten within 24 hours. Never reheat rice more than once.
I have been ill from Chinese food - mum suspected the rice! It was horrific and I wouldn't want to do it while pregnant especially.

Can’t you order and collect on your way round there?

That sounds vile. If it's a big order ring it through when they open and ask for it ready at a particular time? Or get ready meals from supermarket and cook them when you want them.

You know he could ring and order and ask for it be delivered for 8pm 8.30 pm so its fresh. Like if u use just eat etc u can preorder to be delivered for a specific time

Hell no, the food poisoning i had from reheating several day old rice was really not fun. If he wants to heat it up himself, just get a supermarket Chinese meal that is designed for reheating.

You have really dodged some bullets there then. Reheating rice is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It is a fact, not just people getting their knickers in a twist!

I wouldn’t.

Chinese takeaways always pre cook their meat. The cooked meat is added to the wok with the sauce so it’s essentially a re-heat when it leaves the shop

I would be very wary of reheating takeaway food- my partner is sensitive to food poisoning bacteria , and whenever I have reheated Chinese takeaway the next day he has had a problem- if I were pregnant I would definitely question it.