Is it safe to reheat cooked beef stew that you stored in its slow cooker container the fridge overnight and never really cooled?

It's not recommended to reheat beef stew that has been stored in the slow cooker container overnight without cooling down properly. Here's why:

* Food Safety Risk: The "danger zone" for bacteria growth is between 40°F and 140°F. Leaving the stew in the slow cooker overnight, even in the fridge, means it will likely stay within this temperature range for too long, allowing bacteria to multiply.

* Spoilage: The longer food sits at room temperature, the faster it can spoil. This can lead to changes in taste, texture, and odor, making the stew unpleasant to eat.

* Health Concerns: Eating spoiled food can cause food poisoning, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Here's what you should do instead:

1. Cool the stew quickly: Transfer the stew from the slow cooker to a shallow container and place it in the fridge. This will help it cool down faster.

2. Refrigerate within 2 hours: It's best to refrigerate the stew within 2 hours of cooking. If you cooked it in the afternoon, you can usually cool it in time for the evening meal.

3. Reheat thoroughly: When reheating, make sure the stew reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any bacteria that may have grown.

4. Discard if unsure: If you're not sure whether the stew is safe to eat, it's better to err on the side of caution and discard it.

Remember: Food safety is crucial, so it's better to be safe than sorry.