Expert dieticians at Tufts University say we should think "safety first" when it comes to using leftovers. If you forgot to put them in the fridge, or they spent time in your car, just toss them. Tufts' dietician Helen Rasmussen reminds us that it takes only a couple of hours for dangerous bacteria to grow.
The FDA's Foodsafety.gov website says leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours after cooking, not two hours after you left them on a serving table. Separate them into smaller containers so they can cool faster.
When reusing the food, be sure to reheat it thoroughly, especially when using a microwave. Remember that all parts of a dish may not be heated evenly, so stir once or twice while it's heating. The food should reach 165 degrees before being eaten.
For more information on safe storage of food before and after cooking, (and avoiding food waste) see the Food Marketing Institute's Food Keeper site or download the Food Keeper mobile app from fmi.org.
