Leftover food safety
Big holiday feasts often mean lots of leftovers. To make sure you don't serve up harmful pathogens with your postholiday turkey and trimmings, read these smart food-safety tips.
Turkey - Slicing up the entire bird exposes it to more germs, so just carve the portion you're having for Thanksgiving dinner. Eat the rest within two to four days.
Sides Sweet potatoes have a high sugar content that suppresses the growth of most organisms. Cranberries contain an antibacterial compound. Both can be kept up to four days.
TIPS Cut down on counter time. Food should be at room temperature no longer than two hours after cooking. Wash your hands when handling leftovers. This way, you won't add germs. Reheat only once. Leftovers are exposed to germs each time you take them out of the refrigerator and handle them.
Heat to 165F before serving to kill any accumulated bacteria. Store tightly. Use plastic cling wrap or storage containers with tight-fitting lids in the fridge to help preserve flavor and keep out bacteria-promoting air.
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