Preparing salads the day before a party

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

I suspect i know the answer will be 'no' but I just wanted to check.

We are having a party tomorrow and I want to do as much prep as possible tonight. Unfortunately fridge space is at a premium.

If i make couscous with roasted vegetables and pesto salad tonight, will it be alright out of the fridge til tomorrow lunchtime? Ditto pasta salad?

I figure it is just couscous, roast veg and pesto, and pasta and sauce, does it really need to be refrigerated? But I suspect yes.

Advice please?
Thanks

Yes it needs to be kept in the fridge! It will be growing bacteria from the moment you make it.

You can risk leaving stuff out of the fridge if you're going to re-heat it (thoroughly), but stuff like salad will not be re-heated, so it will be dangerous.

Gah! Thank you though, I knew it really, I just needed to be told as i have my 'crazed hostess' hat on today.

But couscous and pasta don't take long to cook anyway - so less of the crazed and more of the chillax, please.

Best to make salad just before serving so that it doesn't go soggy