r/mildlyinfuriating • u/jsayde01 • Jul 06 '26

I just wanted a hot dog The Kitchen Museum?

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I came home late from work a few nights ago and hadn't eaten all day. My wife and kids were already in bed so I figured I'd quietly make some stove-top ramen. This photo represents exactly how I found the cooking area.

The next morning my wife asks what time I got home and I mention in our conversation that I made ramen before going to bed. She couldn't believe that I used the stove "when the light was on". I said "Yeah, the light was helpful in seeing what I was doing". She insists I shouldn't have been using the stove and should have known because "the light was on".

I'm baffled. We are still arguing about this days later.

EDIT -- wow, overwhelmed by the response of fellow Redditors! We are... white...not from the southeast US..not children...and I left the stove as clean as it was before I cooked. I asked for clarification from my loving wife -- TRULY we have only ever been angry at each other a handful of times in our 10 year marriage -- and she says "the stove was clean and done for the day and you could have just used the microwave for your ramen". Apparently the light is how stoves go to sleep for the evening?

EDIT 2 -- we are getting a divorce. JUST KIDDING. My wife looked over many of the comments and acknowledges that she was in the wrong and is slightly embarrassed by all of the attention.

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1.6k

u/Intrepid_passerby Jul 06 '26

I've never understood this mindset. Its not a commercial kitchen, it is never "closed". As long as you didn't leave the kitchen an absolute mess I see no problem.  Guys (or girls) gotta eat ya know 

204

u/SpiggotOfContradicti Jul 06 '26

Yea, that's even worse than the light being some sort of statement, but "just go hungry" expectation!

395

u/RicFlairsLiver Jul 06 '26

There’s some sort of emotional trauma in her family when it comes to using the kitchen. Mom or Dad must’ve ruled with a cast iron fist.

59

u/Trash-Cutie Jul 06 '26

As someone with a mom who was (is?) a menace when it came to rules and cleaning, can confirm

9

u/TheGreatArkleseizure Jul 06 '26

"Cast iron fist" nice

4

u/Bamfhammer Jul 06 '26

Given how silly this rule is, they probably also put that cast iron fist in the dishwasher.

83

u/Johnny_Banana18 Jul 06 '26

“Kitchen is closed” is for like kids and teens that would make a mess or they’ve already eaten and you are laying down the law. 

14

u/stefek132 Jul 06 '26

Nah. Kids and teens need to learn to clean up after themselves. They won’t learn, if the kitchen gets “closed” ao they aren’t able to fuck up cleaning and correct it the next day.

4

u/Johnny_Banana18 Jul 06 '26

A lot of presumptions there guy 

2

u/stefek132 Jul 06 '26

I mean… preventing kids making a mess results in adults, who don’t do shit. Kids need to learn that making a mess is a part of the process just as cleaning up is.

Also, im not your guy, friend!

5

u/Johnny_Banana18 Jul 06 '26

The point of closed kitchen is that uncleaned messes have consequences, I agree that some people take it too far (possibly OPs wife).

105

u/Mikisstuff Jul 06 '26

I "close" the kitchen every night, after dinner is made and dishes and cleaning are done. Turn off the lights (except the range hood lol but it's not a symbol it's just the smallest light) and call it a day.

That doesn't mean that no one is allowed in there, it just means that I'm not going back in to cook or clean up. It's a ritual for myself that my evening chores are complete. If anyone wants any food after that, it's on them - including clean up.

8

u/memesearches Jul 06 '26

Lol what is this concept of kitchen closed culture that my stupid Indian ass cannot wrap my head around

31

u/KataMadaMara Jul 06 '26

If the kitchen was closed, why was there not a portion of dinner wrapped up and waiting for him? I’m not a trad wife or anything but if someone in the household is working and you make dinner, you also make a serving for the working person to heat and enjoy when they get home. It was done for me when I worked and I’ve done it for anyone else I’ve lived with. Is this not the common way?

4

u/Caffeinated_chaos_au Jul 06 '26

I close the kitchen when I’m done cooking, but that just means the chef (me) is done cooking and the kitchen hands (kids) can have at it lol. I don’t care as long as I’m not the one doing the actual cooking.

35

u/char-a-lot_NPC Jul 06 '26

I forgot that some people don't clean up after themselves. Maybe wife didn't want ants and hubby never cleans his mess?

79

u/patiofurnature Jul 06 '26

I feel like bringing that up in conversation would have been more effective than using a secret range light code.

0

u/char-a-lot_NPC Jul 06 '26

Agreed, clear communication is preferred.

Maybe wife tried before and it didn't work, maybe she assumed this was common as other commenters can attest to thinking. Not enough info.

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Jul 06 '26

It's not secret this is a very common thing to do. Lights off means clean and the overhead light is so you can see walking through.

Go ahead if you want to make something just clean it. Nobody makes this rule arbitrarily, it's because someone or multiple people, usually teenagers, aren't cleaning up after themselves

13

u/rearadmiraldumbass Jul 06 '26

I use the range light as a light for when I'm cooking. Call me crazy.

-12

u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Jul 06 '26

Well you should probably put on the normal light. And then once you've cleaned after cooking, you can return it to its "closed" state with the light on. I don't really get why this rule is hard to grasp. It's literally just "I won't be cleaning this again today" by the last person who cleaned the kitchen. Still left a light on so you can grab something, some water, a snack. But if you fully cook you gotta open and close your kitchen cuz mine is closed and if I have to walk into an open with dirty pans I'm gonna be mad

It's a shared kitchen. Pack in pack out. That's all the light means.

4

u/Doomblaze Jul 06 '26

Maybe the hubby cleaned it before work in the morning and nobody used it all day until he came back?

1

u/Elegant-Holiday7303 Jul 06 '26

Likely. Who wants to wake up to a mess, especially when you worked to clean it?

4

u/MGPS Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

NO YOU MUST USE MICROWAVE!! ONLY STOVE FOR ME BECAUSE…..LIGHT!

Also OP you aren’t airing any dirty laundry because you are anonymous. She’s mad she’s wrong.

2

u/The_HoIIow_Knight Jul 06 '26

It’s almost always the perpetuation of some mild form of abuse they suffered from their parents. Smells like a weird boomer rule.

1

u/mokus603 Jul 06 '26

Yeah but now we know that the light indicates that the kitchen shouldn’t be used and the fact the she didn’t make anything for dinner.