Hot Tips for Heatable Eatables
Survey Overview
Whether you're a leftover lover or more the take-out
type, heat, eat (and repeat!) with home food safety "dish"
from the American Dietetic Association:
Refrigerator Raider
When it comes to refrigerating
leftovers, Americans are losing their cool! More than a
third of people typically keep their refrigerator set at
40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and 41 percent admit they
don’t
know the proper temperature to which their refrigerator should
be set. Don’t let bacteria shorten your leftovers’ life – use
a refrigerator thermometer to make sure your fridge is always
set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Repeater Eater
Nearly nine out of 10 people consistently
reheat leftovers before eating them – versus nibbling
them cold right out of the fridge. But 97 percent of leftover
lovers do not use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness of
foods. Next time you reheat, use a meat thermometer to make
sure food reaches the proper internal temperature of 165
degrees Fahrenheit before you eat.
Pizza Prowler
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!
Doggie Bag Diner
Who says you can’t take it
with you? When eating out, nearly 40 percent of restaurant
patrons leave at least some of the time with a doggie bag
or leftovers to eat for another meal. If you’re a doggie
bag diner, write the date of purchase on your take-out container – and
remember to discard leftovers within three to five days.
Microwave Maniac
The most popular use for microwaves
is reheating leftovers – but if your microwave isn’t
equipped with a turntable, you may need to take extra precautions
to make sure leftover food is cooked throughout. Rotate food
one-half turn midway through the heating time and give it
a stir to eliminate cold spots where bacteria can survive.
Then let food stand for one minute before inserting a meat
thermometer to ensure food has reached the proper internal
temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dinner Defroster
Nearly half of Americans use their
microwaves to defrost frozen meat. Since juices from raw
meat may carry harmful bacteria, dinner defrosters should
take special precautions to avoid cross-contamination.
Use separate plates – one to defrost meat and another to
serve cooked meat – or wash plates in warm, soapy water
between uses to eliminate bacteria.
Some documents are in PDF format and require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click 