Should leftovers be stored in the refrigerator or freezer?

Using leftover food after meals helps save costs, however, improper storage increases the risk of disease.

Food poisoning often occurs when leftover food is left out at room temperature for too long or is not stored properly, according to the Cleveland Clinic .

How long can leftovers be kept?

The USDA says leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 3 to 4 months.

Ms. Czerwony, a nutritionist in the US, warns about the risks of improperly preserving leftover food.

Accordingly, food that is not stored properly will create conditions for bacteria to thrive. This is a direct factor leading to poisoning, which can affect some groups of people.

Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are susceptible to complications due to poor resistance.

Food preservation is one of the important things.

Illustration: AI

Choosing to store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer depends on the amount of food left and how you plan to use it.

If the amount of food is small and is used within a few days, the refrigerator is the right choice.

If there is a lot of food left or it needs to be kept longer, freezing helps maintain better quality.

Store leftovers properly

Storing leftovers properly will help limit bacteria. Ms. Czerwony said that users should put leftovers in airtight containers to limit air penetration. This helps reduce the risk of bacterial contamination and prevents odors from the refrigerator from permeating the food.

For frozen foods, a tight wrap helps prevent frostbite. She recommends using plastic wrap, then placing it in a container or wrapping it with foil to retain moisture.

Signs of spoiled food

However, you also need to recognize the signs of spoiled food to remove it promptly. Signs include pale color, gray or green, moldy appearance, slimy, sticky or mushy. In addition, food that is separated, lumpy or has a sour or rancid smell should also be removed.

Ms. Czerwony emphasized the importance of not leaving food at room temperature for more than two hours.

Hot foods should be cooled to room temperature before being placed in the refrigerator. Allowing food to cool before refrigerating reduces the risk of contamination and limits the growth of microorganisms.

In case of doubt whether the food is still safe or not, it is best to discard it to avoid the risk of adverse health effects.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nen-bao-quan-thuc-an-thua-trong-ngan-lanh-hay-ngan-dong-185251205122247201.htm