Leftovers are a great way to save money, diversify meals, and reduce food waste. But leftover food can also be risky because it also comes in contact with bacteria.

If you do not store the leftover food properly and do not heat it properly, you may become vulnerable to food poisoning, which can also be fatal. This does not mean that you should stop eating leftover food. It is important to follow the correct methods to keep food in good condition so that you are safe when you eat leftover food.

How soon should leftover food be put in the refrigerator?

Bacteria are present everywhere in our world, including kitchens and the food stored within them. Food spoilage bacteria can grow rapidly with nutrients, moisture, and temperature, doubling in number within 20 minutes. It is important to put leftover food in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible and within a maximum of two hours. This advice regarding timing is based on how fast bacteria can grow in food at the temperature outside the refrigerator.

Cover the food well

You should ensure that the leftover food is covered well. Food should be covered with plastic foil or an 'airtight' lid that prevents the food from coming in contact with air. This is important because many bacteria need oxygen to grow.

How long is it safe to eat food kept in the refrigerator?

Keep your fridge at a temperature between zero and five degrees, because this temperature prevents bacteria from growing in leftover food, which causes food poisoning. Leftover food should be eaten within two days because, after this, harmful bacteria get time to grow. Germs like Listeria can grow even in refrigerator temperatures and are more likely to grow after more than two days.

Can you reheat leftovers more than once?

You should not reheat leftover food more than once. Whenever food is heated and cooled, it provides the right temperature and necessary time for any harmful bacteria to grow again. After this, the next time you reheat the leftover food, it will be difficult to kill all the bacteria. If you don't think you will eat all your leftover food within two days, freeze it in the freezer.

Can we reheat packaged food brought from outside?

Whether you can safely reheat packaged food depends on how you store it. If you kept it warm in the back of your car or left it out at room temperature in the house for more than two hours, there could be a risk of food poisoning, especially if you've already touched it or have it partially cooked. Have eaten since. However, if you do not touch the food much and keep it in the refrigerator within two hours of purchasing, then you can reheat the food.

Preserving cooked rice and rice products can be dangerous.

Preserving cooked rice and rice products can be risky. Raw rice may contain spores of Bacillus cereus, which causes food poisoning. The original bacteria die when rice is cooked, but its spores can survive the temperature of boiling water. If rice is not kept in the refrigerator within two to three hours after cooking, bacteria can grow and spoil the rice, which can cause problems like diarrhea, stomach ache, and vomiting.