Eating leftovers is also a perfect way to reduce food waste.

For large cuts of poultry and meat, cut them into smaller pieces.

Cover your leftovers with plastic food wrap.

a photo of a person packing up leftover vegetables into containers

Getty Images

Keeping the food covered, wrapped or sealed keeps food moist and prevents unwanted odors.

Stow the leftovers on the shelves of the fridge or freezer.

Placing them on the doors will increase temperature tempering, making the leftovers not last as long.

How Long Do Leftovers Last?

However, this timeline should serve as a general rule of thumb.

For best practices, you should always inspect leftovers for signs of spoilage before consuming.

Smell

Another way to tell if your leftovers have spoiled is by the smell.

you could also look for other signs of spoilage to help make your decision.

Any flavor change or apparent sourness indicates the food is no longer edible.

Spit it out and discard the rest of the leftovers.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Leftovers?

It is best to reheat your leftovers on the stovetop or in the oven or microwave.

Using slow cookers or hot holding elements for reheating leftovers is not recommended.

They may keep the food’s temperature within the danger zone range, making eating unsafe.

Store leftovers within two hours of cooking to avoid the danger zone and bacteria growth.