Introduction: It's inevitable to have leftover meals at home, and if stored improperly, they can easily be contaminated by bacteria. So, how should overnight food be stored?
Recently, it has been widely circulated online that six foods—green tea, mushrooms, boiled eggs, green leafy vegetables, salads, and seafood—are not suitable to be eaten overnight, as they can harm health and even increase the risk of cancer. However, Lynne Ong, a senior dietitian at the National Kidney Foundation of Singapore, says that to date, there is insufficient scientific research to prove that eating these six foods overnight causes cancer or damages the liver and kidneys. Nevertheless, if overnight food is not stored properly, it is likely to breed bacteria. For people with weaker immune systems, such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, consuming it can lead to food poisoning.
Whether overnight meals are safe to eat depends on proper storage. Lynne Ong says, "Of course, the fresher the food, the better. If you must keep it overnight, be sure to seal it while it's still hot and refrigerate it quickly to reduce the risk of bacterial growth." 5°C to 60°C is the ideal temperature for bacterial growth. Room temperature is generally between 23°C and 33°C, so leaving cooked food at room temperature is equivalent to exposing it to an environment where bacteria can easily multiply. Therefore, unfinished food or food not to be eaten immediately should be put in the refrigerator, and the following points should be noted during storage.
1. Food left at room temperature should not be kept for more than two hours.
2. Leftovers should be portioned. Storing a large amount of food in a large container takes longer to cool, increasing the risk of bacterial growth. It is best to divide the food into smaller portions and place them in shallow containers to speed up the cooling process.
3. Cooked food and raw food must be strictly separated. Because refrigerator space is limited, many people place raw foods like fresh vegetables directly next to cooked food, which can easily lead to cross-contamination of bacteria. Cooked food should not be stored in the refrigerator for more than 3 days. If you suspect the food has spoiled, it should be discarded as soon as possible.
4. When reheating, the food must be heated to at least 75°C. Food stored at 0°C to 4°C should be reheated to at least 75°C before consumption, and foods with high water content must be brought to a boil.