Warning: Foods We Need to Be “Especially” Careful With When Taking Them Out of the Fridge!
Imagine this: you open your fridge in the morning and are greeted by a delicious slice of leftover pizza from the night before. Naturally, you're hungry, so you immediately devour it. But hold on, don't be so quick to eat everything you pull out of the fridge.
Experts point out that food poisoning can also stem from improperly stored leftovers. Therefore, it's crucial to store leftover food correctly and heat it appropriately before consuming it.
Let's take a look at the foods that require 'extra' caution when you pull them out of the fridge.
Source
Pizza
You can contract food poisoning from cooked pizza in various ways. This could be due to some ingredients being raw, undercooked, or spoiled, or the pizza coming into contact with a contaminated surface (such as being handled by someone who didn't wash their hands). Moreover, the delightful spice blend we sprinkle on our pizzas (like basil, black pepper, and thyme) can also lead to microbial contamination. This contamination can occur during the harvesting and production stages or due to improper storage by consumers.
Even if harmful substances on the pizza have been sterilized by the heat of a freshly cooked pizza, if they are left at room temperature for too long after cooking, they become a perfect food source for potentially harmful microbes.
Therefore, if you're a fan of cold pizza, the best way to reduce your risk of food poisoning is to refrigerate any leftover pizzas within two hours of delivery or cooking. Remember, refrigerating leftovers only slows down bacterial growth, it doesn't stop it.
Chicken
Cooked chicken spoils quite rapidly once it has cooled down. Its high water and nutrient content, coupled with its low acidity, facilitate the growth of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, particularly if not stored properly after cooking. For your safety, you should promptly cover and refrigerate any portions of cooked chicken you don't plan to eat immediately after they have cooled down from the oven. Ideally, it should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
Cooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. However, if you notice any blood in the chicken, whether it's cold or reheated, you should definitely refrain from eating it. This is a clear indication that the chicken is undercooked and could potentially be contaminated with bacteria.
Rice
Leftovers of any rice dish pose a serious risk of food poisoning. This is due to the fact that uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a common bacterium that thrives on starchy foods. Although the Bacillus cells can be killed by the heat of cooking, their spores are heat-resistant and can survive. If cooked rice is left at room temperature for more than two hours, these Bacillus spores find the time to transform back into bacteria and multiply. These spores can also secrete toxins into the cooked rice, potentially leading to severe vomiting and diarrhea that can last up to 24 hours.
If it's necessary to store cooked rice, it should be covered quickly after cooking, cooled rapidly, and stored in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours.
Canned Foods
In order to safely store leftover canned food, it is imperative to cover them and store them in the refrigerator to prevent contamination from airborne microbes. Storing food in the original can is safe as the can has been sterilized during processing. However, for the sake of flavor, you may opt to transfer it to a lidded plastic or glass container.
In conclusion, leftover meals can also be consumed cold. The key is to refrigerate them as soon as possible after cooking and consume them within a day or two.
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