*EDIT* RESOLVED
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My roommates and I are planning a Friendsgiving and are planning to cook over the weekend to prep. We all have elected to cook certain dishes, and as it is inherently so, cooking is a very personal thing and everyone feels strongly about method and preparation, understandable. Roomie A has elected to cook collard greens (among other sides). Roomie B is the general planner and cooking meats. I am cooking additional side dishes that take no more than 30 min per dish. Roomie A believes that in order to cook collard greens, they must be cooked overnight to ensure they are tender and flavorful. I, however, do know it’s a matter of personal choice and not a requirement. I also am extremely afraid of leaving a gas stove in low all night while we sleep. It seems like a recipe for disaster. If the food doesn’t burn or grow bacteria, then there’s risk of the flame going out leaving gas to slowly disperse into out relatively small living space. Later that evening, I did raise my concern with Roomie B, the planner (Roomie A had gone to bed early bc of her job). Roomie B insists that they must be done on a stove overnight. I told her it makes me extremely nervous because of the gas fumes. She said she’d even sleep in the kitchen if it helped. I’m not afraid of fire per se, I just don’t want excessive gas fumes knowing people like to use candles, smoke, etc. I asked if we can use a crock pot. She said no. This was all Roomie B. I literally lost sleep over this because I do run anxious, so I rushed and bought a crock pot on prime, and decided to just approach Roomie A, the one actually cooking the greens, when she returns from work, letting her know my concern and offering the slow cooker to use overnight on low. I might even suggest starting the greens in the stove for 2 hours, letting them simmer in the pot? Anyone who cooks please chime in!
Am I being overbearing? Am I overly concerned? I don’t want to be mean, or pushy, because again, I understand how cooking is personal. But it does become a little bit of something outside one’s self when you live with others.
NTA, that’s dangerous and greens do not need to be cooked that long anyway.
Can you get something to detect a gas leak? You should have one anyway.
Can’t they cook all day instead of all night? Same amount of wasted gas but at least it may happen when you’re all awake and can keep an eye on the stove.
So NTA. In a world where crockpots/slow cookers now exist, I’ve never heard of someone cooking something ON THE STOVE overnight. That’s extremely reckless, especially with a freaking gas stove.
NTA. But they really just need to use a crock pot. Works perfectly fine and is much safer.
Cooking overnight isn’t dangerous from a food safety perspective or a gas stove perspective. If they cooked all day in the oven it wouldn’t be any different than all night. It’s not different than the multiple hours the turkey/meat roast would cook. But greens don’t really need that long and everyone I know does them stovetop anyway
If your oven isn’t safe it isn’t safe anytime of the day or night but that’s a totally different question.
NTA
I am from the south and have never cooked collard greens that long and have never seen a recipe requiring overnight cooking of collard greens. Prepping yes, because washing those greens properly takes time. But the actual cooking time? 2-3 hours on a stovetop is all that is needed. Won’t they turn to mush if cooked overnight?😂
NTA – Your reasoning about gas fumes is a little overbearing, but buying them a crock pot to properly slow cook them is a thoughtful compromise. If they’re going to be disappointed if they don’t do it the way their family always has or something, you’re going to figure out if this is a hill you want to die on.
The use of gas wouldn’t worry me. It’s what would happen if the water boiled off in the night and the food burned. If B doesn’t want to use a crock pot, I’m guessing it’s really because B has never used one and doesn’t know how. I bet if you can get past that hurdle, B will embrace it.
No way would I leave a gas stove on all night unattended. That’s just not sensible. The slow cooker is an ideal compromise. NTA
NTA Leaving a gas stove on all night is not a good idea… Tell her to get a crockpot. But collards don’t take that long.
NTA this is why crock pots exist, you can get one for like $20 at walmart or cheaper at a thrift store.
NTA
I’ve cooked collard greens many times. Cooking them overnight on a gas stove is not necessary. They can be started cooking in the morning (8 or 9 am) and simmered all day to be ready at 4 or 5 pm.
Personally I would never cook something on a gas stove and leave it unattended for any length of time. I have experienced a total loss house fire. That’s a huge risk.
If they insist on it being overnight- buy a single burner electric cooktop.
I think you already know you’re overbearing. The things that you think they should be mindful of is just common sense. I won’t say you’re in AH territory, but you need to lower the temp. You seriously worked yourself into a lather.