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Refrigerator Rules

Food Safety for Leftovers

By Sponsored November 27, 2014
Thanksgiving leftovers are quite often looked forward to as much as the big meal itself. (Open-faced turkey sandwiches smothered in cranberry sauce and gravy, anyone?) However, it’s easy to forget safety matters when dealing with the storage of leftovers, especially with the excitement of the holidays and entertaining guests. 
We’ve gathered together a few great tips for leftovers that are sure to help keep your holidays healthy:

Don’t get distracted! Deal with leftovers quickly. After you have eaten, quickly store leftovers safely. Food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours begins to grow bacteria, rapidly. If you got distracted and didn’t store food within 2 hours of cooking, toss it out. Better safe than sorry.

Cool it, quick! It is important to cool leftovers rapidly after it has cooked so that it quickly reaches 40 degrees F or below (a safe storage temperature). To do this, divide leftovers into small storage containers and place them in the refrigerator. Leaving food in a large container means it will take longer to cool. For meats and poultry (turkey for example), cut meat into smaller pieces before storing (although wings and legs may be left whole). Hot food in storage containers can be placed directly into the fridge but avoid placing them directly next to other foods; it can cause the temperature of those foods to rise. If you’d like to be more energy-conscious, cool containers of food in a quick ice bath before placing them in the fridge.

Pack it well! Seal leftovers in air-tight containers which will keep bacteria out, moisture in and keep foods from stinking up the fridge. We recommend Cuisinart’s new SmarTrack Storage Containers. With this innovative new concept, consumers can quickly and easily organize items using a dedicated smart phone app and QR codes that are directly integrated into storage containers. SmarTrack can calculate the expiration dates of hundreds of items. Consumers simply need to input the food type, state of the food (raw or cooked) and storage location. This information will be used to set an expiration date, and consumers are automatically alerted when food will go bad. The app also keeps track of where items are being stored, so nothing will ever be misplaced. The SmarTrack storage containers themselves feature air- and water-tight technology, and a spill-proof secure seal. The odor and stain-resistant containers also include an area for labeling, and are freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Cuisinart SmarTrack Storage is available in sets and as open stock. Cuisinart’s SmarTrack; everyday price: $3.99 for a 7-oz. container to $29.99 for a 12-piece set.