I grew up in a family that loved leftovers. Why toss out perfectly good food that you just cooked the day before? However, the more and more I started to cook myself, I realized that there are certain “rules” we should follow for leftovers. How long can we keep cooked rice in the fridge? Is day-old seafood safe to eat? I started to research this topic and here’s what I found.
Well+Good recently did a story on leftover rice. According to the food experts they quoted, after four days of rice sitting in the fridge, it’s time to toss it in the trash. Bacteria will grow on the rice and if consumed, can lead to vomiting or constantly having to go to the bathroom.
The other food type that I was really curious about is seafood. Now, I am the type of person that will immediately toss out seafood if it’s not eaten the day it’s been cooked. I can’t stand to think of something fishy sitting in the fridge and it being good to eat after. Just to make sure my gut feeling was right, I looked into it. According to a Yahoo! article from February 2024, the USDA says that cooked fish is safe to eat for three to four days. I was stunned! They say to label the fish so you know what date it was cooked and be sure it’s consumed before that 3-4 day mark. Apparently the same goes for steak. Eh, I’ll pass.
In general, experts say to use your senses when figuring out if the leftovers are safe to eat or have gone bad. Look for obvious signs of mold and discoloration. Smell the container and if it’s sour or just awful, it’s a sign you need to throw it away. The other good tip was to feel it and if it’s slimy, it’s got to go. I also say when it doubt, toss it out. There’s no reason to risk getting sick for a little piece of last night’s dinner.
For more information, check out the USDA’s food and safety guidelines: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/steps-keep-food-safe.
