From The Straits Times    |


Photo Joseph Belanger

The holiday season is a time of leftovers. And I love them. But there are proper and improper ways of keeping the food for later.

#1 The best is to refrigerate it immediately after the meal. 

#2 Or you can freeze it.

#3 If the food has to be left out, it should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Indeed, leftovers have to be stored within two hours of being served, to prevent food contamination.

#4 And they have to be consumed within four days of being refrigerated to prevent food spoilage.

#5 All leftovers need to be reheated properly before eating. Whether this is done on the stove top or in the microwave oven, stir it halfway through to ensure that the heating is even and that it reaches every part of the container.

#6 If necessary, add a little water to create steam to envelope the food.

 

This article was first published i in The Straits Times on February 2, 2016.