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Making a couple of extra stops on the way home from the grocery store.
Letting milk sit on the doorstep half the morning. Not putting leftovers
away until your favorite show is over.
All these practices test the limits of how long food can be safely stored.
September is National Food Safety Education month, and this year, food
safety experts are focusing on the importance of storing food quickly and
safely. Here are some safe food storage tips from the Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition:
- Don't delay. Refrigerate or freeze perishables right away after picking
them up from the grocery store or deli.
- Keep it cool. Use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to make sure your
refrigerator is between 35 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your
freezer is below zero degrees F.
- Wrap it right. Poultry and meat heading for the refrigerator may be
stored as purchased in the plastic wrap for a day or two. If only part of
the meat or poultry is going to be used right away, it can be wrapped
loosely for refrigerator storage. Just make sure juices can't escape to
contaminate other foods. Tightly wrap foods destined for the freezer in
freezer paper or freezer bags.
- Store it right. Store eggs in their carton in the refrigerator itself
rather than on the door, where the temperature is warmer. Seafood should
always be kept in the refrigerator or freezer until preparation time.
Leftovers should be stored in tight containers. Don't crowd the
refrigerator or freezer so tightly that air can't circulate.
- Read the label. Always check labels on cans or jars to determine how the
contents should be stored. Many items besides fresh meats, vegetables, and
dairy products need to be kept cold. For instance, mayonnaise and ketchup
should go in the refrigerator after opening. If you've neglected to
refrigerate items, it's usually best to throw them out.
- Keep potatoes and onions cool, dry and safe. Potatoes don't belong in
the refrigerator, but should not be stored under the sink because leakage
from the pipes can damage them. Potatoes and onions are best stored in a
cool, dry place away from household cleaning products and chemicals.
- Practice FIFO. Date canned goods when purchased and follow the FIFO rule
of "first in, first out" so that you use the older cans first. Check cans
before using to make sure they are not sticky on the outside. This may
indicate a leak and potentially dangerous food.
- Remember 140 to 40 in 2 hours. Refrigerate hot foods as soon as possible
after cooking and serving. Ideally food should go from hot serving
temperature (140 F) to cold refrigerator temperature (40 F) in two hours.
If cooked, perishable foods have been at room temperature for more than
two hours, the safest practice is to throw them out.
- Date leftovers. Generally, leftovers that have been quickly refrigerated
after serving will remain safe to eat for three to five days. Anything
that looks or smells suspicious should be thrown out. If in doubt, always
throw it out. It's not worth a food-borne illness for the small amount of
food involved.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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