Food leftovers - are they safe ?

[SASA39]

Just a few days ago i started a theme regarding microwave oven purpose.
But due to some respectable members      the whole topic took an unusual route , so that it had to be moved to an Off Topic thanks by Andy.
But I have noticed there that a lot of the microwave owners use the device to reheat the food leftover.
Now I`m asking -  how is safe to eat a food leftovers because we all know that the more the food stays uneaten , the greater is probability of breeding a some unpleasant bacteria in it............
So what kind of leftover is OK , and what to avoid ?
I mean it is better to throw it out and to spend a little extra $ for a new food , than to catch something really nasty ( like parasites or so )
                                             AL

[Christine]

Here is a link for food safety: http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fsgadvic.html

I follow the motto, when in doubt, throw it out.

If it doesn't get eaten in 1-3 days, I throw it out. I know I am wasting food, but it is better than having a belly problem.

I try to freeze most leftovers right away to avoid wasting food.

Christine

[aztecan]

Hey Al,
I'm with Christine and. trust me, I learned the hard way. It is better to be safe than sorry.

HUGS,

Mark

[mjmel]

I follow the 3 days-in-the-fridge rule too. Usually it's gone by the end of next day. Any doubt throw it out.

[budndallastx]

I usually don't trust anything in the fridge past 24 hours after it's been cooked.  Food needs to be cooled down quickly and refridgerated.  If it's been sitting out then it goes in the trash immediately.  If I plan on keeping for another day, it gets frozen so that I know nothing had a chance to become a biology experiment.

Also, let your nose be your guide.  If it smells bad then it most definitely needs to go into the trash.

Better safe than sorry...

[SASA39]

Conclusions:
1 day is minimum
3 days are maximum !
Beter safe thrn sorry !
That was just the fact I was looking for........
For that reason I was insisting on polles so that we could get a mayority opinion..............
Thanks .........................             Al

[SASA39]

What should I know about food safety?
 
Paying attention to food and water safety is important when you have HIV, because your immune system is already weakened and working hard to fight off infections.

If food is not handled or prepared in a safe way, germs from the food can be passed on to you. These germs can make you sick.

You need to handle and cook food properly to keep those germs from getting to you.

Here are some food safety guidelines:

  Keep everything clean! Clean your counters and utensils often. 
 
  Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after preparing and eating food. 
 
  Check expiration dates on food packaging. Do not eat foods that have a past expiration date.
 
  Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables with clean water.
 
  Thaw frozen meats and other frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a microwave. Never thaw foods at room temperature. Germs that grow at room temperature can make you very sick.
 
  Clean all cutting boards and knives (especially those that touch chicken and meat) with soap and hot water before using them again.
 
  Make sure you cook all meat, fish, and poultry "well-done." You might want to buy a meat thermometer to help you know for sure that it is done. Put the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and not touching a bone. Cook the meat until it reaches 165 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit on your thermometer.
 
  Do not eat raw, soft-boiled, or "over easy" eggs, or Caesar salads with raw egg in the dressing.
 
  Do not eat sushi, raw seafood, or raw meats, or unpasteurized milk or dairy products.
 
  Keep your refrigerator cold, set no higher than 40 degrees. Your freezer should be at 0 degrees.
 
  Refrigerate leftovers at temperatures below 40 degrees F. Do not eat leftovers that have been sitting in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
 
  Keep hot items heated to over 140 degrees F, and completely reheat leftovers before eating.
 
  Throw away any foods (like fruit, vegetables, and cheese) that you think might be old. If food has a moldy or rotten spot, throw it out. When in doubt, throw it out.
 
  Some germs are spread through tap water. If your public water supply isn't totally pure, drink bottled water.

 

[izprince1984]

What should I know about food safety?
 
Paying attention to food and water safety is important when you have HIV, because your immune system is already weakened and working hard to fight off infections.

If food is not handled or prepared in a safe way, germs from the food can be passed on to you. These germs can make you sick.

You need to handle and cook food properly to keep those germs from getting to you.

Here are some food safety guidelines:

  Keep everything clean! Clean your counters and utensils often. 
 
  Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after preparing and eating food. 
 
  Check expiration dates on food packaging. Do not eat foods that have a past expiration date.
 
  Rinse all fresh fruits and vegetables with clean water.
 
  Thaw frozen meats and other frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a microwave. Never thaw foods at room temperature. Germs that grow at room temperature can make you very sick.
 
  Clean all cutting boards and knives (especially those that touch chicken and meat) with soap and hot water before using them again.
 
  Make sure you cook all meat, fish, and poultry "well-done." You might want to buy a meat thermometer to help you know for sure that it is done. Put the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and not touching a bone. Cook the meat until it reaches 165 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit on your thermometer.
 
  Do not eat raw, soft-boiled, or "over easy" eggs, or Caesar salads with raw egg in the dressing.
 
  Do not eat sushi, raw seafood, or raw meats, or unpasteurized milk or dairy products.
 
  Keep your refrigerator cold, set no higher than 40 degrees. Your freezer should be at 0 degrees.
 
  Refrigerate leftovers at temperatures below 40 degrees F. Do not eat leftovers that have been sitting in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
 
  Keep hot items heated to over 140 degrees F, and completely reheat leftovers before eating.
 
  Throw away any foods (like fruit, vegetables, and cheese) that you think might be old. If food has a moldy or rotten spot, throw it out. When in doubt, throw it out.
 
  Some germs are spread through tap water. If your public water supply isn't totally pure, drink bottled water.

 

The EPA has guidelines for any municipal water supply, the FDA regulates bottled water, but the guidelines on both are about the same.

Long story short, bottled water isn't necessarily any safer than tap, and it's just cash in the trash.

[Merlin]

I agree. Once I drank some soya milk when it ran past the expiry date by a week cos it did not smell nor tasted bad, I felt sick for 3-4 days with a fever to boot. My tummy dun seem to be able to deal with spicy food anymore too like before. Now if I take anything too hot or spicy, it will hurt and keep me going to the superbowl many times over for a day or two.

I'm slowly learning about what and how to eat properly. Not many may agree, but sometimes, one may need to go through trials and errors the hard way and form one's own experiences to set the habit straight.

Happy safe eating 

PS: I'm wondering though just to digress; wouldn't microwaving food kill all germs even if the food is not fresh? So, even though it's good hygiene to throw out stale food, no food should be unsafe after a good microwaving right?..unless the food is not microwave long enough?. Any thoughts?

[aztecan]

Hey Prinze,

You said, "The EPA has guidelines for any municipal water supply, the FDA regulates bottled water, but the guidelines on both are about the same."

That is true in the U.S. But SASA lives in Central Europe and I don't know what the standards are there.

HUGS,

Mark

[SASA39]

Very shaky Marc  ("the chef"), very shaky.
Only when citizens of some city here ( Serbia ) collect some sh...t ( usually hard metals) a goverment raise an alarm.
So you were right as usuall ...............
                            Al