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Should You Keep Leftovers

With the cost of food being so high, no one wants to waste it. That’s why refrigerators across America are filled with the remains of yesterday’s dinner and why so many “doggy” bags carried home from restaurant meals are really used to feed humans the next day. Unfortunately, even the cold environment of the refrigerator won’t keep food fresh indefinitely. How long can you keep leftovers safely without risking food poisoning?

How Long Can You Keep Leftovers?

According to guidelines established by the Department of Agriculture, most leftovers should be eaten within four days, and gravy and stuffing should be eaten within two. This assumes that the leftovers been refrigerated at a temperature of between 34 degrees Fahrenheit and 39 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range has been found to be effective for preventing the growth of most microorganisms that can lead to food poisoning. When food is exposed to temperatures above 39 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria can survive and replicate increasing the risk of food borne illness. Make sure your refrigerator is 39 degrees or below by checking it periodically with a calibrated thermometer.

How Long Can You Keep Leftovers at Room Temperature?

One common practice that increases the risk of food poisoning is letting leftovers remain at room temperature too long. This can happen when you bring leftovers home from a restaurant and don’t return home immediately or leave leftovers out on the counter for hours before refrigerating them. Food left at room temperature provides the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. For this reason, leftovers should never be left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. If you forget to refrigerate leftovers immediately, toss them. It may be a waste, but it’s better than becoming ill.

Keeping Leftovers: The Importance of Reheating

If you want to reduce the risk of food poisoning even further, reheat leftovers thoroughly, if possible bringing them to a full boil to kill any bacterial growth. It’s best to do this on the stove rather than a microwave which can leave cold spots that could harbor bacterial growth. Make sure the temperature of reheated food reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

When You Keep Leftovers, Date Them

One practice that can reduce the risk of food poisoning from leftovers is to label them clearly with a date they were stored. Once four days have passed, throw them away. Storing leftovers in shallow containers is best since this increases the surface area, allowing more rapid cooling.


The Bottom Line?
It’s nice to save money by reusing leftovers, but don’t let them be the cause of a bad case of food poisoning. When in doubt about the freshness of a food, toss it.

By Dr.Kristie