Curious about how you can reduce the amount of food waste you produce? It's no secret that food waste is a pretty large issue today. Loads of dairy, produce and meat products are thrown out daily due to spoilage and not meeting grocery store requirements. While food waste on a large scale is quite impactful, minimizing food waste can make an enormous difference at a consumer level.
Think about it: how many times have you gone out to eat and not finished your food at a restaurant? Or maybe you made a bit too large of a meal at home and forgot about your leftovers until weeks later, only to discover them rotting at the back of your refrigerator.
While spoiled leftovers should not be eaten in any circumstance, creating meals from leftover lunches and dinners is a great way to reduce food waste. By learning more about foods that you can save for later, how long they'll stay good in the refrigerator and storing them properly, you can ensure that you cut back on food waste and save money.
Keep reading for some of our food waste prevention tips when it comes to storing leftovers.
How Long Are Leftovers Good?
Wondering how long do leftovers last? Though it would be much easier if there were a golden rule for how long a leftover remained edible, the truth is, it varies by food. Most cooked foods can be kept in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days after cooking. Any longer and they'll undoubtedly begin to spoil.
Clean veggies and meats can be stored a bit longer and even more so if they're frozen. The key to ensuring That your food doesn't spoil is to eat it before it does. Proper storage and labeling can help guarantee that your food remains fresh until you're ready to eat it. Airtight containers and immediate refrigeration is a great way to help your leftovers retain moisture and prevent harmful bacteria from tainting your dish. It is also important to refrigerate or freeze leftovers immediately after cooking. Once the food is left out at room temperature for over two hours, it will need to be discarded for your safety.
What Bacteria Can Grow on Leftovers?
When it comes to bacteria found on food, you should be aware of two different kinds of bacteria. The first is pathogenic bacteria. This is the kind of bacteria that is commonly known to cause foodborne illnesses. The second is spoilage bacteria. This kind of bacteria causes food to deteriorate. It is often identified by unpleasant smells, textures and tastes.
When food sits out at room temperature for too long, bacteria can grow much faster than if the food was refrigerated or frozen. While pathogenic bacteria commonly grows at room temperature, spoilage bacteria can develop at lower temperatures and on food that has been refrigerated or frozen. Because of this, it's essential to eat your saved leftovers promptly. While spoiled foods do not always cause one to get sick, they are not good for you. At the first sign of spoilage, your food should be thrown out immediately.
How to Tell if Your Food Is Safe to Eat
Not sure if your leftovers are still good? Follow these simple steps to preserve the life and nutrients of your leftovers.
Step 1: Cook Your Food Properly
The most crucial part of having safe-to-eat leftovers is to make sure that the food is cooked correctly in the first place. Cooking your food to a safe internal temperature will help kill harmful bacteria that could present itself later on.
Step 2: Reheat Your Leftovers
Leftovers that are reheated should once again reach a safe internal temperature upon reheating. This temperature is usually calculated at 165°F. Reheating your food to this degree will ensure that any bacteria present is eliminated.
Step 3: Eat Your Food Within 3-4 Days
Most leftovers will remain free of bacteria for a few days in the fridge. Just make sure to make a note of when each should be eaten. If you make a large batch of food or meal prep for later in the week, we suggest freezing your food to preserve it for longer.
Different Rules for Different Foods
Curious to learn more about how each food should be kept? Keep scrolling to discover how different foods require different preparation when saving them as leftovers.
Leftover Chicken
How you store your chicken affects its shelf life tremendously. In short, The colder the fridge, the more days it will last as a leftover. That being said, no chicken should be kept in the fridge for too long. A good rule of thumb is to toss your leftover chicken after four days, no matter how good it may look. After four days, bacteria will begin to grow on your chicken, making it unsafe to eat. To check if your chicken has spoiled, look for signs of a slimy texture or a sour smell. If your chicken displays these signs, discard it immediately.
For a delicious chicken dinner that you can save for later, make this Lemony Chicken Barley Soup.
Leftover Pizza
Fall is one of the busiest seasons of the year! Because your time is often spent with family and friends, opting for a quick and warm meal like pizza is an easy way to curb everyone's cravings. The great thing about pizza is that it comes in large amounts, which means that you can easily feed a group or save the leftovers for when you find yourself in a time crunch. Because pizza often has toppings of both meat and cheese, if you plan on keeping it, you'll want to make sure it's refrigerated within 2 hours. Pizza left at room temperature for any longer can cause foodborne illnesses, that will surely put a damper on your day. Once refrigerated, pizza will remain fresh for up to 4 days. After that, bacteria will begin to grow, and it should be thrown out.
Not keen on pre-made pizza? Make tasty pizza at home with this Skillet Pizza Recipe.
Leftover Stuffing and Gravy
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's good to have a plan in place when it comes to storing all of the leftover stuffing and gravy. While tasty sandwiches and hot meals may arguably be the most delicious part of the holiday season, the truth is, these leftovers can spoil rather quickly. When it comes to indulging in fall leftovers, here are a few tips.
Stuffing
Stuffing should be consumed two days after refrigerating. Because it's often combined with meat drippings, it can spoil much quicker than other foods.
Looking for the perfect stuffing to try out this holiday season? You can't go wrong with this Bacon and Sage Cornbread Stuffing.
Gravy
Similarly to stuffing, gravy should also be consumed within two days' time. When reheated, it needs to be brought to a boil to ensure all bacteria are killed before serving again. Gravy can be stored in the freezer to extend the shelf life past 2 days!
Craving gravy but following the keto diet? We have you covered with this Gluten Free Keto Gravy Recipe.
Lasagna
Bring on the comfort food! With the nights getting a bit chilly, you may be searching for a cozy meal that will warm you up. Freshly made lasagna is the perfect way to keep your cravings and your family satisfied. The best part is, refrigerated lasagna will keep longer in the fridge than most other foods—up to 5 days, to be exact! Just be sure to store it in a tightly sealed container.
Surprise your dinner guests with this flavorful Textured Vegetable Protein Lasagna.
Beef
Are you craving last week's beef brisket or rib leftovers? When stored properly, beef can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days before spoiling. If your beef has been in the fridge for a few days, and you're wondering if you should still eat it, check for signs of spoiling. An unsettling smell or a slimy texture will let you know that it's time to toss the beef. To store your beef for even longer, pack it in the freezer!
For the perfect fall-inspired meal, make these mouthwatering Beef and Vegetable Hand Pies.
And there you have it, a complete guide to leftovers. In this article, we've discussed the proper storage of leftovers, the answer to the burning question “how long do leftovers last in the fridge?” and how to check if your food is spoiled. Use this guide as a reference when you're storing your food, to make sure the meals you enjoy are safe for you and the family.
Have an easy way to determine if leftovers are still good? We'd love to hear more about how you evaluate what's stored in your fridge. Let us know in the comments below. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, have a beautiful day!
