The kitchen will be bustling with food as the holiday season is officially on. With multiple gatherings and meetings with friends and family, Christmas and New Year parties, food never seems to end. While you prepare to carry the leftover food from a party to not let it go to waste, how long do you actually leave it in the refrigerator?



Technically, leftovers can be kept in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days because beyond that there is a risk of food poisoning. If you are not sure of completing the food in 3 days, the other option is to freeze it which can be safe for up to 10 days.



How to store them?






It is not just important to refrigerate leftovers, it is also important to how we store them. Storing them in the right way will reduce the risk of premature food spoilage. Place the leftover food in air-tight containers or jars that are plastic. Another way is to tightly wrap the food in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and it can help the food from getting other odors.



Throwing away



The food in your refrigerator should be thrown away immediately if it has mold, the original colour has changed, and it smells one more important point is that no food from your fridge should be consumed if it has been there for more than seven days. According to food safety norms, all perishable foods should be thrown away before the 7-day mark and



Bacteria on food grow quickly and the food should either be kept cold under 4 degrees celsius or warm or hot above 40-degree celsius to prevent bacterial growth.



How to safely reheat leftovers?






The leftover food in the refrigerator or freezer will be at the temperature of 2 or 4 degrees celsius and it is not safe for it to be immediately reheated. Though the food might not get poisoned, a constant practice of reheating cold food at high temperatures can cause harm to the body. The best option is to reheat the leftover once it thaws or reduces to room temperature.



You can safely thaw frozen food three ways. You can microwave it, move it to the refrigerator overnight, or put it in a leakproof container in cold water and let it come to room temperature.



How long can these leftovers stay in the refregirator?






Cooked chicken - 3 to 4 days

Pizza - 3 to 4 days

Meat - 1 to 2 days

Rice - 1 to 2 days

Pasta - 3 to 4 days

Boiled eggs - 1 week

Soup - 3 to 4 days

Lentils - 3 to 4 days

Boiled vegetables - 5 to 6 days

Cut fruits - 5 to 6 days

Desserts - 3 to 4 days