Enjoy your leftovers - safely!

Leftovers are great for saving both time and money. However, they are only good when they have been stored and reheated properly. Don’t throw away your hard work and money; instead, follow these tips for keeping your leftovers delicious and safe to eat.

Tip 1 - it is essential that you refrigerate or freeze your leftovers promptly. Food should not be left out for more than two hours, and the general rule of thumb is the sooner you get leftover portions refrigerated, the better. If the food has been out in temperatures over 90°F or 32°C, it needs to be refrigerated within one hour.

Tip 2 - help cool hot food to refrigerator temperature in order to prevent the growth of bacteria. This can be done by putting it in shallow containers to help reduce the internal temperature faster. Once cooled,  store foods in airtight containers.

Tip 3 - leftovers are not good indefinitely. Generally, leftovers in the refrigerator will last no more than 3-4 days. Food may still look ok, even when it’s no longer safe to eat so always err on the side of caution. If you know you will not eat the leftovers within 3 days it is best to freeze them.  It is helpful to write the date on the leftover container so that you know if it is still safe to eat.

Tip 4 - reheat your leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C.  Liquids, for example, sauces and soups, should be brought to a boil. Only reheat the portion you are going to eat immediately.