Reheating leftovers safely
How long home-cooked leftovers keep, how to reheat them, and when to throw them away.
The two-hour rule
Refrigerate cooked food within two hours. In a hot kitchen or at a picnic, make that one hour. Divide a big pot of soup or chili into shallow containers so the center cools. A deep container left covered on the counter stays warm in the middle for too long.
Three to four days in the refrigerator
Most cooked meat, soup, pasta, and cooked vegetables are best within three to four days. Write the day you cooked on the container if you cannot remember. When you are unsure how old it is, do not serve it.
Reheat to 165°F (74°C)
Stir soups and saucy dishes halfway through reheating so cold spots disappear. A splash of water brings dried pasta and rice back. Eggs and baked oatmeal only need to be warmed through. Do not reheat the same leftover more than once. Reheat the portion you will eat.