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(WJW) – While the Thanksgiving feast is over, many people have a fridge packed full of leftovers.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are important safety steps to follow.
- Two-hour rule: Perishable food that isn’t refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the oven or refrigerator can become unsafe. Bacteria can multiply quickly between 40 F and 140 F.
- Use shallow containers in the refrigerator until the Monday after Thanksgiving
- Freeze or consume within 4 days if you’re not freezing leftovers
- Reheat leftovers to 165 F. Sauce or gravy should be brought to a rolling boil.
If you have questions about food safety, you can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).
