How Long Are Leftovers Good In The Refrigerator

How Long Do Leftovers Last?

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Remember twice before y'all oestrus upwards that week-old lasagna.

Leftovers—they're every meal planner'south all-time friend. What'due south leftover from a delicious dwelling-cooked dinner or a fancy restaurant visit makes the all-time work lunch the next twenty-four hour period. But every bit much every bit we might try to stretch out Mon night'due south dinner over the course of several days, life happens. And now you tin't assistance only experience a little uneasy most those week-one-time leftovers that of a sudden resurfaced in your refrigerator.

Avert wasting money, food, and most chiefly: avoid getting food poisoning. Larn the rules of when to keep leftovers and when to toss them, co-ordinate to the food safe experts at the United States Department of Agronomics.

Person scooping leftovers into tupperware

Tin You Tell If Leftovers Have Gone Bad?

You can't be sure your leftovers are still rubber to swallow based on sight, smell, or even taste. This is because foodborne disease is the result of contagion from bacteria, and bacteria ofttimes doesn't change the appearance of nutrient. With fourth dimension, you may notice a alter in your food such every bit mold, change in color, texture, or smell—but if you lot don't see these changes in your food, it doesn't necessarily mean y'all're in the clear. It'south best to stick to the onetime rule: when in doubt, throw information technology out.

The bottom line: the ol' sniff test isn't going to be enough to make up one's mind whether food is rubber to swallow. It's of import to know the guidelines on how to properly shop and reheat leftovers, as well every bit some general rules on how long to keep your leftovers.

Tips for Safely Handling Leftovers

How long leftovers terminal is also dependent on how you lot handle and reheat leftovers. Stick to these guidelines to preserve your leftovers for as long as possible without risk of foodborne illness.

i. Keep Food at a Safe Temperature

Co-ordinate to the USDA, bacteria tin can rapidly grow between the temperatures of 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. This ways you don't want to leave nutrient in this temperature "danger zone" for an extended period of time.

To preclude bacteria growth, hot food should be kept at a temperature of 140 degrees F or warmer, and cold food should be kept at xl degrees F or cooler. Any dish that has been left at room temperature for more than than ii hours should be thrown out. Dishes that accept been left at a temperature of 90 degrees F or higher should exist thrown out after an hour (sorry, summertime potluck leftovers).

ii. Store Leftovers with Care

When information technology comes time to refrigerate your leftovers, you lot'll want to cool food as speedily as possible. The longer you permit food to sit at above forty degrees F, the more than bacteria yous invite to contaminate your nutrient. Despite what you may have heard elsewhere, the folks at the USDA say hot foods can be placed directly in the fridge. They recommend dividing upwardly larger quantities into smaller containers and so they can cool even faster.

Be sure to wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container to retain moisture and keep leaner out. Characterization them with the date then you tin can know when it's fourth dimension to toss them.

3. Reheat to Accomplish a Safe Internal Temperature

Ideally, reheated leftovers should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F to ensure that bacteria is killed. It's never also late to starting time using a digital thermometer—like this #1 Amazon all-time seller! If you're using a microwave, utilise a microwave safe covering with a vent to help retain rut and destroy harmful bacteria. Make sure soups, sauces, and gravies are brought to a eddy, to ensure whatever trace of harmful bacteria is killed. Slow cookers aren't recommended for reheating foods, as they go out the food at an unsafe temperature for too long.

How Long Do Leftovers Last in the Fridge?

Now for the existent question: tin last calendar week'south dinner become this calendar week's lunch? Here's what the USDA says:

"Leftovers tin can be kept in the fridge for 3 to four days or frozen for 3 to iv months."

Then if you lot've passed the four solar day mark, it'southward best to go ahead and throw it out. I know, whomp whomp. But better that than flirting with nutrient poisoning, right? This goes for really whatsoever type of leftover including: salads, cooked meats, casseroles, or pizza. If you don't remember yous'll be able to eat your leftovers inside iv days, go ahead and freeze them. You'll thank yourself when you demand to brand dinner on the fly, and you'll help to reduce food waste.