Food Safety - How To Store And How Long To Keep Leftovers

leftover vegetables in storage containers
  • Make sure your freezer is set at 0°F and your refrigerator is set at 40°F or below.
     
  • After making a dish, divide out the food you want to store.

    • Cut smaller portions of the dish and place in air-tight containers.
       
    • Cut meat to pieces that can be frozen and reheated safely. Items such as bread can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn.
       
    • Divide food into portions you can realistically see you or your family consuming at one given time.
       
    • It’s also a good idea to label your frozen goods. Just write the name of the dish and the date on a piece of tape with a permanent marker. Then you always know what’s in there!
       
  • Properly portioning leftovers avoids unnecessary reheating and refrigerating of food; changes in temperature and the middle-ground between properly heated and properly chilled — between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C)— make food susceptible to spoiling and bacteria growth. Food should not be left out of the refrigerator more than 2 hours – less than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.
     
  • Leftovers will keep up to four or five days in the refrigerator and up to six months in the freezer.
     
  • Reheat leftovers thoroughly to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
     
  • If you are in doubt about the safety of the food you are about to eat, it is best to throw it away.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors.

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Last Reviewed: Apr 26, 2018