Storing leftovers can be a great way to save money, time, and food. But if you don't do it properly, you can risk food poisoning, spoilage, and waste. Here are some tips for storing leftovers safely and efficiently.
The first step is to choose the right containers for your leftovers. You want to use containers that are airtight, leak-proof, and microwave-safe. Avoid using plastic bags, foil, or paper, as they can trap moisture, bacteria, and odors. You can also use glass jars, metal tins, or silicone bags, as long as they have tight lids. Label your containers with the name and date of the food, and use them within three to four days.
To store leftovers safely, I recommend cooling food quickly and refrigerating it within two hours to prevent bacteria growth. Use airtight containers to maintain freshness and prevent cross-contamination with other foods in the fridge
All of my containers have lids that don't fit properly. That doesn't matter. That's why cling wrap and tape were invented. Be creative.
The second step is to cool and refrigerate your leftovers quickly. You don't want to leave them at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can allow harmful bacteria to grow. To speed up the cooling process, you can divide large portions into smaller ones, spread them out on a baking sheet, or place them in an ice bath. Then, transfer them to the refrigerator as soon as possible, and keep them at 4°C or below.
The third step is to reheat your leftovers thoroughly before eating them. You want to make sure they reach at least 74°C in the center, and that they are steaming hot throughout. You can use a microwave, oven, stove, or toaster oven to reheat your leftovers, depending on the type of food. Stir or rotate your food halfway through to ensure even heating. Avoid reheating your leftovers more than once, as this can reduce the quality and safety of the food.
The fourth step is to freeze your leftovers for longer storage. If you know you won't eat your leftovers within three to four days, you can freeze them for up to three months. Freezing can prevent bacterial growth and preserve the flavor and texture of the food. However, not all foods freeze well, so avoid freezing foods that are high in water, dairy, or eggs, as they can become soggy, curdled, or separated. To freeze your leftovers, wrap them tightly in freezer bags or containers, and label them with the name and date of the food.
The fifth step is to thaw your leftovers safely before reheating them. You don't want to thaw your leftovers at room temperature, as this can allow bacteria to multiply. Instead, you can thaw your leftovers in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Thawing in the refrigerator is the safest and easiest method, but it can take several hours or overnight. Thawing in cold water is faster, but you need to change the water every 30 minutes. Thawing in the microwave is the quickest, but you need to reheat your food immediately after.
The sixth and final step is to enjoy your leftovers and reduce food waste. Leftovers can be a delicious and convenient way to enjoy your favorite dishes again, or to create new ones. You can use your leftovers to make salads, sandwiches, soups, casseroles, pizzas, or wraps. You can also add some fresh ingredients, herbs, spices, or sauces to enhance the flavor and variety of your leftovers. By storing and reheating your leftovers properly, you can avoid throwing away food and money, and help the environment.
Yes please. Leftover are never thrown away in my house. Either freeze for another meal, or convert to another dishe. For eg: rice for fried rice and potatoes from curries converted to potato cutlets. There's many ways leftover can be converted to delicious meals. Another example: leftover bread slices turned int croutons and used for salads. Soup stocks are also reused by adding other types of veggies and herbs inside, for another level of soups. Apart from, use veggies and near expire products instead of throwing away. Always begin cooking with what you have in the fridge, for using whatever veggies are there and check expire dates on food regularly before they expire.
It's preferable to optimise for no leftovers. Food changes its properties on the Microbial level after 4 hours. It took a while, but eventually we've optimised the quantity of food we cook.
I like the article it’s good but I just think people in the US need to use more the kitchen that they just remodeled the previous year for 100k instead of using Uber for everything and eat out most of the time. Also when they cook at home to make sure it’s not something that they just throw on the microwave or warm up in the oven for a quick moment but instead promote the model of some countries in EU where slow cooking is the thing and includes the entire family in the process. So taking the real time cooking the really food will be much better in the long run as it will be healthier and will essentially save money.