Put it away
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
March 28, 2026 12:54pm CST
Until I got married and moved out on my own I had a "stomach bug" most big holidays. I am convinced it was some kind of food poisoning.
When we had large family gatherings we had our big festive meal, then left the food on the table in containers, covered by a table cloth to keep flies off of it. We all ate and overate all day. Within a day I usually was throwing up. I must have been sensitive to food borne illness.
In my own home I only let the food get moderately cool so as not to overheat the refrigerator. I put it in covered dishes and either freeze or refrigerate it.
This discussion is being brought to you courtesy of the baking dish full of chicken and vegetables that is ready to go into the refrigerator. I will put it in a storage container and it will be great to eat another day as well.
I love to cook a large amount of food then eat it on the next day or two without having to plan again for cooking.
10 people like this
9 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
This was many years ago. When I got married and moved too far away to come visit I stopped getting the holiday illnesses. I think my food was not so rich either.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (33875)
•
28 Mar
We do this as well
But quite often it gets eaten later on the same day.
I don't think either of us has ever got ill because of something we are here at home Heather
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Oh this was massive amounts of food.More than could be consumed in a day. Maybe the things I preferred grew bacteria quickly, or I just was touchy.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
@Ineeddentures That is true, but this was often twenty to thirty people. One year we had turkey, then they went out and shot a duck, and there was ham, and then all the side dishes and at least a pie per person.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (33875)
•
29 Mar
@GardenGerty
You ain't ever seen how much I can consume
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@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
I guess not. It also was a matter of logistics. But you know, we got all the dishes washed up.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
29 Mar
I love to cook large amounts and freeze part of it and part of it goes in the fridge for the next day or two. I still tend to cook something every day but I get so tired of cooking all the time.
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@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Me too. I get it. All of the above. Luckily we like leftovers or replays of food.
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@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
30 Mar
@GardenGerty Pretty doesn't like leftovers but that's okay. She can cook for herself while I eat leftovers.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Yes, it is, but that is how it had always been done.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
29 Mar
My MIL always left out the Thanksgiving turkey so everyone could have sandwiches at a later meal. As soon as she was too old to cook dinner; and I made it, into the fridge it went once it cooled down a little bit.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Turkey, gravy, stuffing, desserts, veggies, mashed potatoes, they all sat out. It was more than my system could handle.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
30 Mar
@GardenGerty She worked for Hough Bakeries as a caterer. She should have known better about leaving food out.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
People came to visit you and brought you brand new strains of flu as a gift. I am sorry you got sick so often.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
28 Mar
I think you always have to be mindful of food safety, sometimes the guidance about what is good and bad is overdone, but you have to use commonsense when putting away food away..If you left a can of veggies out until 5 AM..yeah, best toss..etc. I have read recently that reheating rice in the microwave makes people ill, and if you feel you must, add a bit of water and stir it in the process of reheating.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Actually have heard that about pasta as well. When I was young, Mom said reheating potatoes was an issue, and that was pre microwave. One of the best defenses, I have heard is to actually freeze those starches in portions and when you reheat them they have become resistant starches. I like to make small portions of rice for myself, because hubby mostly dislikes it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
28 Mar
We always did that with no problem. Some people are more sensitive
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@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Mar
Maybe the kitchen had better growing conditions.
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