Curry left out, still safe to eat?

[PillowPalava]

I batch cooked a massive curry last night. Usually I freeze half of it and eat the fresh over the first few days and then defrost the rest to eat over the last part of the week.

Anyway. I asked my husband to put it in the fridge last night after it cooled, but he forgot. So it's been sitting out all night. It probably would have been cold by about 10pm.

It was just chicken breast, veg, pataks curry paste and water (trying to lose weight!) no dairy or coconut milk.

Is it still OK to eat?

I wouldn't risk it, because of the chicken.

It's the chicken that's worrying me. I'd be a bit more blase about beef.

It's been very cold overnight so personally I would eat it, after reheating very thoroughly.

I'd certainly eat it. Perhaps in the middle of a heatwave I might pause for thought, but assuming you are in the UK and yiur kitchen is relatively cool overnight I'd have no worries about it. We routinely leave stews, curries etc out overnight before putting in the fridge or freezer the next day.

It'll be fine in the next day or so if you refrigerate it now. It's been pretty cold, I am sure it hasn't been 30 degrees overnight in your kitchen or anything.

How hot does your kitchen get? My ds cooks chicken pasta and leaves it out to cool overnight for work and has been fine

I wouldn't eat it.

I would guess kitchen was about 16 degrees last night. Cold outside but centrally heated house.

I would as the kitchen would have been cold overnight (unless you keep your heating on). I hope DH is going to make some more!!!!

Was it covered?

I wouldn’t eat it, I would if it wasn’t chicken.

I’d bin it and be fuming.

DH is very apologetic but is also heading out the door for a work trip. So time to make a replacement curry!

He delivered the "I forgot to put it in the fridge" news with so much gravity I was worried something truly horrific had happened.

He is usually very good.

Yes. It was in a croc pot.

It's just the expense (5 chicken breasts) and the hassle of coming up with alternative healthy, high protein, low fat lunches all week.

I'd heat it to nuclear levels and eat it.

I'd eat it providing it was heated up thoroughly

I'd eat it, as it was cooked. But I would add a bit of water so it doesn't dry out and re-heat it to a high temperature, say 220.

Apparently..."Bacteria will die at temperatures above 212 degrees. Bacteria stops growing at 8°c and below, and at 63°C or above."

Come back and let us know how it went - if you don't come back with an update, I will fear the worst and probably not post any more cooking advice.

Thank you. I will give this a go and report back.

Just a little update to say that I liveth still!

I’ve done this before and survived.