Get the most out of your sobras with some helpful info.
We often cook more than we need and then regret throwing out the leftovers from dinner. But if we decide to put them away, we have to be aware of the necessary steps to avoid food poisoning.
The general rule is to keep leftovers in the refrigerator and consume them as soon as possible, within three days. Store them in plastic or glass containers, but not the same one you used to cook, and cover it properly so that the food is kept separate from any source of contamination. Labeling each container with the date is an easy way to keep track.
You should not wait more than two hours after having cooked a meal to put the leftovers in the refrigerator, especially meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs. Bacteria may be reproduced in food that has been exposed to room temperature for a longer period of time.
A good piece of advice offered by Ximena Jiménez, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is to put your leftovers away in small containers measuring no more than two inches deep. This helps keep the food colder.
If you think it will be longer before you consume your sobras, put them in the freezer immediately; do not wait until they have been in the refrigerator three days. The fresher the food is when you freeze it, the better its quality will be when you eat it. For example, if you cook for a whole week, put half in the refrigerator and the other half in the freezer.
Don’t forget to always wash your hands before handling food. And if you’re ever doubtful or find it has a bad odor or taste, do not hesitate to throw it out.
