Keeping leftovers safe
剩饭剩菜的保存与食用安全
It's not just you that loves your leftovers. The BBC's Trust Me, I'm a Doctor programme tells us that they are also great for bacteria like listeria, salmonella and campylobacter. They can nourish themselves on the food we love and multiply incredibly quickly. One campylobacter bacterium can multiply to 70,000 million bacteria in just 12 hours. Food poisoning caused by these bacteria usually makes people mildly unwell but can also cause more serious life-threatening illnesses. What do we need to think about to keep our leftovers safe?
Overpriced shop-bought sandwiches underwhelming food from your work canteen or pricey local restaurants If those are the alternatives then it's unsurprising that many of us think leftovers make the perfect lunch Leftovers are a good way to cut down on food waste If you've cooked them yourself then you can be sure what all the ingredients are and where they've come from But how safe are leftovers Could there be a danger lurking in your lunchbox
Temperature control is important to stop bacteria growing on your food Food safety experts warn of a danger zone between 8C and 63C At these temperatures bacteria can grow easily on your leftover food Refrigerating your leftovers slows bacteria growth and this is why experts recommend putting your leftover food in the fridge within two hours You should also cover any food in the refrigerator because air can contain contaminants and also many pathogens need oxygen to grow However do remember that fridges only slow bacteria growth not stop it so most leftovers should only be left in the fridge for two days
Temperature is also important if you are reheating leftovers Instructions often recommend heating food until it's piping hot or steaming hot throughout Clinical microbiology lecturer Primrose Freestone recommends that ovens are set to at least 163C and that food's internal temperature should reach at least 74C Other experts tell us that food heated in the microwave should be stirred halfway through the process so that it's cooked all the way through
Leftovers can be an economical way to cut down on food waste However it's important that we store and reheat food carefully to make sure that it stays safe to eat
