How long foods are good for

First, look for changes in texture or the appearance of mold, which can come in a variety of colors, including white, green, orange-red, pink, or black fuzz.

This indicates that food has gone bad and should be discarded. Likewise, if food is discolored, it may no longer be safe or enjoyable to eat. Be mindful that food can spoil even before you can tell by looking at it or smelling it — so follow the guidelines above. First, look at your leftovers and note any changes in texture or appearance.

Food that smells rancid or tastes strange should be trashed. To keep foods out of the danger zone, refrigerate or freeze leftovers within 2 hours. This will allow foods to cool quicker and more evenly. It could be helpful to label your food with the date and time you first prepared the dish when you store it, along with the date it should be tossed by.

Store ready-to-eat foods on the top shelf, as well as raw foods. Meanwhile, store uncooked meats toward the bottom of the refrigerator. This will prevent uncooked meat or poultry from dripping juices that could cross-contaminate your leftovers. Gravies and sauces should be reheated until they reach a rolling boil. Storing leftovers properly can extend their shelf life and prevent you from getting sick.

The two main causes of foodborne illnesses are improperly cooking food to a safe internal temperature and leaving food out at unsafe temperatures 1. However, leftovers are especially at risk of these pathogens, as their spores float freely in the air and land on food. This allows for the development of mold, which can produce mycotoxins that may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a combination of these symptoms 13 , People who are pregnant should be especially vigilant about properly cooking, storing, and reheating foods.

Listeria can cross the placenta and harm a developing baby 8. People over the age of 65 or those who are immunocompromised should also be very careful about preparing and storing food safely. This includes those living with the following conditions:. Pathogens can grow in all kinds of foods and put you at risk of food poisoning. Those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems should be especially careful.

How long a food can keep depends on a few factors, including its preparation, storage, and how easily it spoils. Aim to store your leftover food within 1—2 hours of its preparation. Reheating leftovers reduces waste and saves time and money, but improper reheating could put your health at risk.

This article provides instructions…. Which Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to save and for how long? Given that chicken has a high risk of bacterial contamination, preparing, cooking, and storing it properly is important.

Utilize our shelf life resource and stop throwing out perfectly good food. Our Favorite Food Storage Set! Have a Suggestion? Got a specific food request or a helpful tip for the community? Please visit our contact page. New Farmers. Disaster Resource Center.

An official website of the United States government. Have a Question? After you open a can, how long can you keep the food in the refrigerator? Information Knowledge Article. After opening canned goods, store the food in the refrigerator. High-acid canned goods such as tomato products, juice, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut and foods in vinegar-based sauces can be stored five to seven days.

Low-acid canned goods, such as meat, poultry, fish, gravy, stew, soups, beans, carrots, corn, pasta, peas, potatoes and spinach can be stored three to four days.