I’d like to introduce my first guest blogger, Jill Hively. With many years experience as a Registered Dietician, Jill has developed coaching skills to work with and encourage others to make life style changes that will positively affect their well-being, both nutritionally and in their living environments. Jill is the owner of Order Up Organizing in Apex, NC. She is a fantastic resource when it comes to food & kitchens!
We can’t talk about making efficient use of our food budget without talking about leftovers. And I can’t talk about leftovers (or food, in general) without talking about food safety.
Whether you’re bringing home extras from a restaurant or planning to have tonight’s home-cooked casserole for lunch tomorrow, remember the basics:
Safe to eat?
Get the food out of the car as quickly as possible. If you’re going bowling or to a movie after a dinner out, you may want to split an entree rather than plan to keep the leftovers. As you’re watching the magic of Harry Potter, the microorganisms will be casting their own scary spell on your food.
Label and date leftovers. Eliminate any confusion about what it is or how long it’s been hanging around.
Reheat leftovers completely before eating. According to the USDA, “completely” = 165° F
When in doubt, throw it out. Sure, you may be out a few bucks, but it’s better than being out of commission with extreme gastrointestinal discomfort.
You can also check out stilltasty.com for guidance on the shelf lives of specific foods. And check out this article for general guidance.
Do you follow guidelines when deciding to eat leftovers? Or do you simply go by appearance?
