With family meals, social gatherings and busy schedules, leftovers can quickly accumulate in many households. While food may appear safe based on smell or taste, health experts warn that improperly stored or reheated leftovers can harbour harmful bacteria capable of causing food-borne illnesses.
According to public health specialists, good food hygiene after cooking is essential to protect families from illnesses that may result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or fever.
Cooked food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. In warmer environments, this time should be even shorter. Bacteria grow rapidly between 5°C and 60°C — a range commonly referred to as the “danger zone.”
Leftovers should be refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible. To help food cool quickly and evenly, divide it into small portions and store it in shallow, airtight containers. While food does not need to cool completely before refrigeration, care should be taken to avoid raising the refrigerator’s overall temperature.
Labelling leftovers with the date they were prepared helps track how long they have been stored. Most cooked foods are safe to consume within three to four days when refrigerated at 4°C or below. If food will not be eaten within this period, freezing is recommended.
Although freezing slows bacterial growth, food quality can decline over time. Health experts advise discarding leftovers if their storage history is unclear.
When reheating leftovers, ensure they are heated until steaming hot throughout, reaching at least 74°C. Stir food during reheating, particularly when using a microwave, to remove cold spots where bacteria may survive.
Leftovers should only be reheated once. Repeated cooling and reheating increases the risk of contamination.
Proper handwashing before handling food is essential. Clean utensils should always be used, and tasting food with the same spoon used for stirring should be avoided to prevent introducing bacteria.
Food that has an unusual smell, appearance or texture should not be eaten. If there is doubt about how long leftovers have been stored or whether they were handled safely, experts advise discarding them.
Practising safe storage and reheating habits is a simple but effective way to prevent food-borne illnesses and protect the health of households.
