Is It Time to Throw Those Leftovers?

The biggest food day of the year has come and gone and now we have leftovers sitting in the refrigerator.  The questions is- how long are they good for and when does it get dangerous?

According to the Mayo Clinic, leftovers are good for three to four days in your refrigerator.  After this time frame, however, food poisoning becomes an issue and you should decide to freeze your leftovers or throw them out.

A little information about food poisoning:

• AKA "Foodborne illness"
• Caused by harmful organisms (e.g. bacteria) in contaminated food
• Bacteria doesn't usually change the taste, smell or look of food

Rule of thumb: If you're not sure about the safety of your food, it's best to throw it out.

For more information on contamination prevention and proper food handling for future holiday festivities, check out the Mayo Clinic's webpage addressing how long to keep leftovers in your refrigerator.