With Thanksgiving fast approaching, most of us are either looking forward to or dreading those seemingly endless leftovers. In our Safe Family report, Josh Stevenson reports on how to avoid the dangers of those leftovers.
Thanksgiving can be a great time with family and friends. Having a big meal and sitting down to watch the big game is a tradition in most houses. But for food, Thanksgiving is also a race against the clock
Two hours is the longest you can leave food out before dangerous bacteria starts to grow. That applies to either from the time it comes out of the oven or the fridge.
"If it’s not under control in two hours, the safest thing to do it to throw that food product away," Grayson County Health Department chief sanitarian Marshall Ward says.
Remember it is also a good idea to empty out the refrigerator before stocking up for the holidays, because an overfilled fridge can work less efficiently.
If cooled properly, leftovers can be good for up to three days. So this year before you sit down to watch the big game, remember you are in a race against time.
On the Web:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-safety/AN01095
http://www.foodreference.com/html/tleftoverfoods.html
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Seasonal_Food_Safety_Fact_Sheets/index.asp
