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.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.