Tip of the Day
Unsafe Leftovers Can Make You Sick
Did you make too much food for dinner? No problem. Leftovers make a great lunch or dinner tomorrow. Some people even believe leftovers taste better the next day. Everyone enjoys leftovers at some point, and it is important to always follow the proper leftover safety steps to avoid getting food poisoning.
Here are some tips to keep your food safe:
- Keep your refrigerator set to 40°F or below.
- Make sure you refrigerate leftovers within two hours, or one hour if food sets in over 90°F weather. If food has been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours, toss it!
- Use a food thermometer to make sure leftovers are reheated to 165°F. This goes for microwaved leftovers, too.
- You can't rely on sight and smell alone to know if leftovers are spoiled. Place an "eat-by-date" label on leftovers or write the date of purchase on your take-out-container to remember when to discard leftovers before they perish.
For more information on reducing your risk of food poisoning and leftover safety, view our Leftover Safety Tips on www.HomeFoodSafety.org.
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