No refrigeration in the UK?? What is different??

Hmm! Very interesting!! Yes, over here in the US they immediately start putting the eggs in cold storage after they have been laid. Why. I don't know.  Cuz farm-fresh eggs are way better!

Because the US is much bigger and there might not be enough farms that produce enough eggs for the area? 

What is this refrigeration thing you speak of? 

My mom grew up here in the 40s-50s and left in the early 60s for the States.

One day during a phone conversation (after I moved here), she said something similar like 'you have a refrigerator?!?!?'   She must have been having a senior moment because she's over plenty of times since to know that fridges are standard.

I'm trying to remember if my grandma ever did get one.  She had a cool dark room off the kitchen (called the larder I think) where they stored milk.  Butter was always out on the counter. Leftovers didn't really exist back when my mom was a kid, because there was never enough food for the meal. 

As most people have said, yes, we do indeed have refrigeration in the UK.

However, the fact that refrigerators tend to be quite a bit smaller does make some difference.  As has already been pointed out, most people don't keep eggs & condiments in the fridge.  Also, there's not a lot of room to keep beverages in the fridge.

So, if you're used to keeping a 12-pack of Coke on the bottom shelf, every door shelf filled with jars of jam, dressing and mayo, and with room left for 2 days worth of leftovers, a gallon of milk and a big pitcher of iced tea... you're gonna have a bad time.

My MIL and I had to come to a compromise over condiments.  And when I say compromise, I mean we had to get an extra mini-fridge, and she had to get used to putting the mayonnaise and jam in the refrigerator, and not storing leftovers in the microwave.  And I had to get used to a certain amount of bacteria anyhow.  My stomach adjusted after a couple months.

It'll depend on how much room you have really. We have a large American-style fridge with plenty of room for everything. But I do agree that most people have smaller ones.

As most people have said, yes, we do indeed have refrigeration in the UK.

However, the fact that refrigerators tend to be quite a bit smaller does make some difference.  As has already been pointed out, most people don't keep eggs & condiments in the fridge.  Also, there's not a lot of room to keep beverages in the fridge.

So, if you're used to keeping a 12-pack of Coke on the bottom shelf, every door shelf filled with jars of jam, dressing and mayo, and with room left for 2 days worth of leftovers, a gallon of milk and a big pitcher of iced tea... you're gonna have a bad time.

My MIL and I had to come to a compromise over condiments.  And when I say compromise, I mean we had to get an extra mini-fridge, and she had to get used to putting the mayonnaise and jam in the refrigerator, and not storing leftovers in the microwave.  And I had to get used to a certain amount of bacteria anyhow.  My stomach adjusted after a couple months.

Yes, I will not under no circumstances leave leftovers out.  Ugh!! I will make room somehow.  lolz.

When I moved to the UK, I was initially quite wary of leaving leftovers and eggs out.  But DH always did it (and reasoned that loads of people in the UK do it and they're not dropping dead left and right), so I started doing it as well.  It's been fine, I've not suffered any ill health effects from it, and I don't even think of it anymore.

Obviously, it depends on what the leftover is and how long you're going to leave it, but I'm totally converted now to leaving more things out.

I guess my soon to be husband will convince me of that too.  lolz.  I guess if I have to, I might not like it at first but I will get used to it. 

It probably depends on your cooking style as well.  We only make enough for a meal for both of us and very rarely have leftovers.  If that's something you get into, leftover space in the fridge won't even be an issue!

Putting my laboratory scientist hat on, I can tell you that unwashed, previously unrefrigerated eggs are fine to leave out as are they have a natural antibacterial coating on the shell. Condiments with a high vinegar content are fine to leave out as bacteria won't grow as fast in things like vinegar. But I would personally never leave leftovers out.

Just my 2p.

I have never heard of leaving leftovers out of the fridge.  That's kind of gross, sorry.

Yes it is gross.  But it is what it is. 

We leave things like pasta bakes, fruit crumbles, etc out on the countertop covered with clingfilm.  Things with meat generally go in the fridge.  Or leftovers that we know won't be eaten in the next 24 hours.  

DH and family leave practically everything out.  

(ETA - grammar!)

We have a large-ish fridge... probably around 5 and a half feet high and 2 feet wide... but it's always nearly empty.  My other half doesn't like eating leftovers, and doesn't like to plan meals ahead.  He likes to shop daily for what he fancies at the time, and wouldn't dream of eating something he didn't fancy just because it was already bought and paid for.

We've got to do it his way, because he pays for it all!    After 4 years, I've got used to it, but would still prefer to do it 'my way'... planning ahead, shopping with a list, creating miracles out of leftovers, etc.

(Just looked, and fridge contains only milk, condiments, cheese, garlic dip, 2 eggs, a jug of made-up Ribena and a few bottles of beer! Oh, and a Lush fresh face mask.)