The Surprising Debate Over Leaving Soup on the Stove All Day

Grandmothers’ cooking often followed habits that seem almost magical, like leaving a large pot of soup on the stove for hours before refrigerating. For older generations, this wasn’t careless; it was shaped by kitchens without thermometers, smaller refrigerators, and a reliance on experience and intuition. Thick enamel or iron pots retained heat for hours, keeping soups warm enough to discourage bacterial growth.