Cooked a little bit too much? To preserve freshness and avoid spoilage, leftover food should be eaten as soon as possible.

– Put them at the front of the shelf at eye level, so you’ll constantly be reminded to finish (or clear) them. To be safe, toss out unconsumed leftovers after two days.

– Consider labelling glass containers or takeaway boxes with the date before storing to help you keep track. Of course, remember to warm the meal properly before eating.  

– Store your leftover roast chicken in an airtight container or sandwich bag before putting it into the fridge. According to experts at the USDA, “These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture, and prevent leftovers from picking up odours from other food in the refrigerator.” 

– When reheating soups, gravies and stews, you can warm them up over the stove by bringing them to a vigorous boil. You can also reheat food in the microwave – just be sure to rotate the food so that it gets evenly heated up. It is important for all leftovers to be heated till they reach at least 75 degrees Celsius. 

– Still can’t finish the food? It’s safe to refreeze the leftovers again if they were previously reheated to the safe temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius. But really, just portion your meals accordingly to that you end up with less leftovers next time! 

This article was first published on Shape Singapore.