Iowa — One of the perks for Iowans who are hosting big family gatherings during the holidays is getting to nosh on those leftovers for days on end, but to enjoy all that extra food for the next week, it has to be put away safely.
Food safety expert Amy Johnston says most leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours.
Johnston says that rule also applies when the food is still warm, but you just have to go about it differently.
Plus, leaving the lid askew will cool your food down faster. Once it’s cold, you can tighten the lid and begin stacking the leftovers. There’s a broad “Temperature Danger Zone” for rapid bacteria growth that causes food-borne illness, which is between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
With warm foods, Johnston says if it was cooked thoroughly enough, those bacteria will be inactivated — or killed — during the cooking process. For more tips on leftovers, visit this site at Food Safety-dot-gov: https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/leftovers-gift-keeps-giving
