How long can leftovers from Tet be stored in the refrigerator?

During Tet, there is a lot of leftover food, making it more difficult to store in the refrigerator as well as increasing the risk of food poisoning if stored incorrectly.

How to preserve leftovers to prevent poisoning

Storing leftover food in the refrigerator will help you not waste food, especially during the holidays - when there is a lot of leftover food. However, eating leftover food left in the refrigerator for too long can cause health risks, such as poisoning. So how long can leftovers from Tet be stored in the refrigerator?

Store leftovers in the refrigerator properly

Properly storing leftovers will ensure the food is preserved for as long as possible as well as prevent cross-contamination between foods. Here's how to store leftovers in the refrigerator:

Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours

Bacteria thrive at temperatures ranging from 4°C to 60°C. This temperature range is called the "danger zone". Therefore, to ensure safety, you should store them in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking (or within 2 hours of removing them from the warming device).

Although refrigeration slows the growth of most bacteria, it is important to note that some bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes can still grow at cold temperatures.

Store leftovers in a sealed bag or shallow, airtight container

Covering, wrapping or sealing food will help keep it moist and prevent unwanted odors from other foods.

However, when choosing a food storage box you should note: If you choose a plastic box, you should choose plastic boxes with numbers 2, 4 and 5 printed on the bottom - these are considered safe plastics. for food preservation. Prioritize preserving food in glass containers to ensure health safety.

Label the food box

Labeling food boxes will help you know when to start preserving them so you can plan which foods to eat first and when to throw them away. You should also take note of which foods cannot be kept for a long time and prioritize eating those foods first.

Leftovers should be stored on the top shelf of the refrigerator

Food scraps should not be exposed to pathogens that may drip from raw meat or other foods. Therefore, leftovers should be kept in the top shelf of the refrigerator (refrigerator, not freezer).

Keep your refrigerator below 4 degrees Celsius

This is the temperature that can prevent the growth of most types of bacteria.

Throw away leftovers that have been reheated once

When reheating food in the refrigerator, some types of bacteria may have grown in the food. Therefore, if you don't eat it all, you should throw it away.

Thaw frozen leftovers in the refrigerator so they stay safe

If your leftovers are stored in frozen form, you should defrost the food in the refrigerator, avoid leaving it outside because it can cause food contamination and harm.

Store leftovers in an airtight container when placing in the refrigerator. (Photo: Internet).

How to reheat leftovers in the refrigerator

If you reheat food in the refrigerator incorrectly, you can also get poisoned or have digestive problems such as diarrhea, stomach ache. Therefore, when reheating food in the refrigerator, You should note a few things:

1. Reheat leftover food stored in the refrigerator to at least 74°C to kill dangerous bacteria. Gravy and sauces should be reheated until boiling.
2. Reheat leftovers on the stovetop or in the oven or microwave . Do not use a slow cooker or warmer to reheat leftovers. They can keep the temperature of food within the danger zone, making it unsafe to eat.

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