Are you having yesterday's dinner today?
While leftover food may get a bad rap, a survey conducted by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the ConAgra Foods Foundation reveals that most Americans are hungrily wrapping it up – and serving food again.
According to the survey, 9 out of 10 Americans eat leftovers at least once or twice a week, while nearly 20 percent enjoy repeat feasts 3 to 5 times a week. One in 3 belongs to the "leftover lunch bunch," toting last night's dinner or a restaurant or supermarket take-out to work at least once or twice a week for a reheat-and-eat lunch.
"To make sure leftovers are safe and delicious a second or even third time around, people need to keep in mind home food safety tips," says ADA spokesperson Bettye Nowlin.
- Whether you're microwaving leftovers or reheating them in the oven, the only accurate way to gauge the doneness of food is to use a meat thermometer to make sure foods reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When saving leftovers for latecomers, remember that perishable foods should never sit at room temperature for longer than two hours. Instead of leaving dinner on the stove between reheatings, store it in the fridge until family members are ready to eat.
Believe it or not, 36 percent of people admit to eating leftover pizza from the night before…even if it hasn’t been refrigerated! Pizza, like all perishable foods, follows the two-hour rule: If pizza has been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours, toss it.
For more tips, visit Home Food Safety...It's in Your Hands. |
