Eat leftovers safely
These foods should no longer be eaten without refrigeration
Sometimes you just leave leftovers on the table. But there are some foods that should never be stored outside of the refrigerator.
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Sometimes food is left over after eating.
Forgot yesterday’s rice on the table and only put the milk back in the fridge a few hours later – can you still eat this food at all? Some foods tolerate room temperature well, but others are at high risk of bacteria after a night out of the fridge. Accordingly, you should refrain from eating some foods after they have been unrefrigerated for a certain period of time.
milk and yogurt
Yoghurt and all kinds of fresh milk belong in the fridge, especially if they have already been opened. This also applies to UTH milk products: Once opened, they must be kept in the refrigerator.
But sometimes it happens that you leave your groceries in the kitchen or forget the opened yoghurt on the table. In such a case, you should trust your senses. Subject the dairy products to a smell and taste test. Basically, if milk or yoghurt has been stored overnight at room temperature, you should better keep your hands off it.
mayonnaise
Unopened, mayonnaise does not need to be refrigerated. Once opened, it belongs in the fridge. However, industrially produced mayonnaise can withstand a few hours at room temperature even when opened. When in doubt, it’s best to smell it. Homemade mayonnaise, on the other hand, should never be stored without refrigeration. Due to the lack of preservatives, it is no longer edible after a short time.
Cooked pasta
When preparing pasta, you often notice that you have cooked too much. Cooked pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. At room temperature things look a little different. Pasta with sauce is particularly susceptible to bacteria if it is not refrigerated. Pasta should not be left out of the fridge for more than 12 hours. Within this period, heat the noodles at at least 70 degrees Celsius for two minutes.
rice
Rice is also often left over from cooking. It’s best to store leftovers in the fridge rather than in the pot on the stove. Chilled rice can be eaten for a maximum of two days after cooking. However, if you leave the food at room temperature, you should eat it within 12 hours. Bacteria spread quickly in unrefrigerated rice. Therefore, before consumption, smell the dish and heat it well.
meat, fish and seafood
Meat, fish and seafood dishes are particularly susceptible to bacteria. Fish and seafood should be chilled no later than an hour after preparation. Meat can be kept at room temperature for a maximum of one hour longer. After that, consumption could become critical.
This is how food stays edible
Katja Ehrensperger is a nutritional and psychological consultant at Mamakk – Holistic Health in Zurich. The expert knows practical tips for handling food that will keep it fresh and edible for as long as possible:
- When shopping that Expiration and use-by date of food. The fresher the better.
- Food at home in cupboards, refrigerators and freezers to verify.
- Do not interrupt the cold chain: Transport raw food quickly and cool and store it in the refrigerator.
- Delicate foods, such as fish, meat, raw dairy products or seafood, should be bought fresh and quickly consumed will.
- Always keep hands, work surfaces and objects safe when handling these delicate foods clean thoroughly.
- Food once thawed no longer (or at best after cooking) freeze.
- Food gone bad throw away immediately because they are harmful to health.
- Cooked meals store covered and store and prepare them separately from raw foods.
- raw foods when cooking, heat to 70 degrees to ensure the killing of pathogens.
Katja Ehrensperger is a nutritional and psychological consultant at Mamakk – Holistic Health in Zurich. The expert knows practical tips for handling food that will keep it fresh and edible for as long as possible:
- When shopping that Expiration and use-by date of food. The fresher the better.
- Food at home in cupboards, refrigerators and freezers to verify.
- Do not interrupt the cold chain: Transport raw food quickly and cool and store it in the refrigerator.
- Delicate foods, such as fish, meat, raw dairy products or seafood, should be bought fresh and quickly consumed will.
- Always keep hands, work surfaces and objects safe when handling these delicate foods clean thoroughly.
- Food once thawed no longer (or at best after cooking) freeze.
- Food gone bad throw away immediately because they are harmful to health.
- Cooked meals store covered and store and prepare them separately from raw foods.
- raw foods when cooking, heat to 70 degrees to ensure the killing of pathogens.
How to properly freeze vegetables
Not every vegetable is suitable for freezing, but with the right technique, vitamins, colour, texture and taste can be well preserved in many varieties.
Not every vegetable is suitable for freezing, but with the right technique, vitamins, colour, texture and taste can be well preserved in many varieties.
How long does frozen bread last?
As with meat, bread does not last forever when frozen. Whole loaves of bread have a shelf life of around six months, and slices around three months. Because even at minus 18 degrees Celsius, bread still dries.
If white spots appear on the inside of the bread while it is in the freezer, there is no reason to worry. This is completely normal. It’s not mold, it’s crystals formed during freezing. When thawed, these spots disappear again.
As with meat, bread does not last forever when frozen. Whole loaves of bread have a shelf life of around six months, and slices around three months. Because even at minus 18 degrees Celsius, bread still dries.
If white spots appear on the inside of the bread while it is in the freezer, there is no reason to worry. This is completely normal. It’s not mold, it’s crystals formed during freezing. When thawed, these spots disappear again.