3 Rules Of Thumb For All Foods:
We’ve only listed a few leftovers you should consume with caution. But to be on the safe side, there are three main rules you should follow regarding what’s in your fridge. Here’s what you should know:
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
If you happen to lose track of how long something has been in your refrigerator, it’s best not to risk it. Just throw the item away. And if you’d like to avoid this issue in the future, you can try labeling and dating your leftovers before popping them in the refrigerator. - Store Your Food Wisely
If you wish to get the best out of your food storage, you should divide the hot leftovers you have into smaller portions, then place them in shallow dishes so that they cool faster. After the steam has stopped rising from the food cover them and put them in the fridge. Don’t forget to choose strong food-storage containers. And remember that covered containers are always a better choice than uncovered bowls. But most importantly…NEVER store your food in the can it came in. - Don’t Leave Out Dishes At Room Temperature
Food that’s been out on the counter for way too long can begin growing bacteria, so make sure you place your leftovers in the fridge or freezer as soon as you can. Try to get food in the refrigerator within two hours, or sooner if it’s cooled enough, after you’re done cooking. If you leave it out longer than that, it may become unsafe to eat.
The takeaway here is that refrigerators can stretch the life of our foods significantly, but not forever. So to prevent any unwanted episodes of food poisoning, you should go through the contents of your fridge on a regular basis and throw out any leftovers that are questionable or past their prime.
If you found this article on leftovers useful, we also recommend reading: 12 Foods You Can Still Safely Consume Past the Expiration Date
