FOOD NEWS
The Rule You Need To Remember For Returning Leftovers To The Fridge
By Elizabeth Pak
Heating up leftovers can be tricky, and you may wonder how long you can keep them or how many times you can reheat them before they go bad. While all of these questions are valid, the most crucial question is how long you can leave your leftovers at room temperature before returning them to the fridge.
Leaving leftovers out on the counter for two hours or more runs the risk of them harboring foodborne illnesses. Furthermore, if the room temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you may only have about an hour before bacteria starts growing.
The general rule of thumb is to throw away leftover food items that have been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours. However, if you don't want to waste food, your best bet is to scoop whatever leftovers you want and immediately return them to the fridge.