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How Long Can You Leave Cooked Food Out of the Refrigerator: What Everyone Should Know
15.05.2023 19:25
Storing cooked food in the refrigerator is important for safety reasons.
However, sometimes you can forget to put a dish on the refrigerator shelf, and sometimes there is no room at all. ADVICE.NEWS offers to figure out how long you can leave food outside the refrigerator.
Under what conditions do foods spoil quickly?
Prepared food and products spoil faster at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees.
In warm conditions, harmful bacteria multiply faster, leading to spoilage.
Perishable products include meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
When it comes to cooked food, it usually doesn't spoil for the first 2 hours outside the refrigerator. After that time, the food should be eaten or thrown away.
If it is hot outside, the shelf life of food is reduced by half, thus amounting to only one hour.
How to Properly Store Food and Prepared Meals in the Refrigerator
Before placing in the refrigerator, products must cool completely to avoid damaging the equipment.
Divide the refrigerator into specific zones: for meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, drinks.
An important note regarding fruits and vegetables: do not wash them before storing them, as they will last longer if they are dirty.
Store produce and cooked foods in zip-lock storage bags or airtight containers.
By following the rules for storing food, you will ensure safety for yourself and your loved ones.
