Storage of Leftover Foods (2232)

About two million cases of foodborne illness occur each year because of improper handling. Older people are more vulnerable to such illnesses, so it is particularly important for them, or for those who help them with their food, to store food properly. Leftover cooked foods can be particularly risky unless they are carefully stored.

Except for baked goods, throw away any cooked foods left at room temperature for two hours or more. This includes dairy products, except butter or natural cheese. In two hours any bacteria present in the foods could increase to numbers that would make you ill.

Refrigerate leftover foods promptly. Eat them the next day, or label and freeze them. Leftovers from home-delivered meals should be refrigerated right away and eaten within one day. If the meal was delivered when no one was home, it is best to throw it away rather than take the chance it was at room temperature too long. If the meal cannot be eaten as soon as it is delivered, refrigerate it when it arrives, then reheat it later.

Food from meal sites that has been at room temperature for two or more hours should be thrown away. If you take food home from meal sites, refrigerate it as soon as you get home, and eat it by the next day. Check expiration, or "best if used by" dates on foods. You cannot always see or smell when a food is spoiled. An older person with a less acute sense of smell won’t be warned by off-odors. If food has an expired date, or if you suspect food has been held too long, don't taste it. Throw it away! When in doubt, throw it out.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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