After every Christmas or any occasion, we left with plenty of food. But how long can we actually keep them?
Adequate Temperature: The way food is handled affects its safety and durability. To ensure that leftovers last as long as possible, use a temperature control technique. Hot food should be kept hot and cold food should be kept cold. Food should be stored above 60 degrees Celsius or below 5 degrees Celsius and the danger zone is between 5 and 60 degrees, at this temperature, bacteria grow as stated by food safety expert Dr. Phan-Thien from the University of Sydney’s School of Veterinary Science.
Stacking up leftovers in the fridge: A refrigerator can only keep food fresh if its temperature is constant. However, that is impossible to maintain with piles of food stacked on every shelf.The solution is to avoid putting big amounts into a single container. Allow food to cool before placing it into the container to avoid condensation. You can speed up the cooling process to help food by putting the food on ice for a few minutes before putting it in the fridge. To make cooked food last longer, put it on ice as part of the serving method rather than leaving it out on a dish.
If food has been left out for several hours: Some pathogens will proliferate if food is left at room temperature for four hours and more than that. So, manage your food by serving smaller quantities, and storing the rest properly in the refrigerator, and taking out and replenishing as needed. Food can be served within a two-hour timeframe, and if stored in the fridge within that time limit, it can be eaten as leftovers. While it depends on the food, it’s normally acceptable to consume within the next two to three days, and it’s critical that hot food is thoroughly reheated.
Feeding leftovers to pets: Dr. Anne Quain stated that a lot of dogs after Christmas are sick from eating treats and leftovers from the table. She suggests, mostly they had eaten Christmas ham, lamb, or turkey prawn. Dogs eat quite plain foods. A sudden flood of fatty foods can wreak havoc on their digestive system, resulting in gastroenteritis, diarrhea, or pancreatitis. Foreign bodies such as bones, kebab sticks, and toothpicks can cause intestinal blockage or perforation. If your pet is ill, please take them to the vet. Don’t wait, if they’re vomiting or having diarrhea, especially if they’re not drinking. It could be a potentially fatal ailment like pancreatitis or gastric dilatation.
What if a fly touches the food: When a fly lands on food, some people ignore it, while others walk to the garbage can. Manure contains pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella enterica. They may land on manure, pick up bacteria, then land on food and transfer it there, but the amount of risk that you’ve got an infectious dose is not great if it’s lightly touched your food and flown away. However, if that food is left out at a temperature that supports microbial growth, pathogens can multiply, and food safety risks increase. Be extra cautious when it comes to – young, aged, pregnant, and immunocompromised people – as these individuals can become ill.
