After a big party or dinner party, deciding what to do with a table filled with waste may not be at the forefront of your mind, but an important part of the party. It is regrettable to waste good food, but leaving food leftovers without temperature control may be unsafe.

Any food left for more than two hours is susceptible to harmful bacterial growth and must be disposed of. This applies to any part of the meal, and it is particularly important if your food remains sitting in the summer heat. This applies to both cold and hot foods, so be sure to serve foods just before meal time and store anything sitting as soon as the meal comes to an end.

Bacteria thrive between 41 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit - this is known as the "danger zone" for storing food. Once food reaches this range, the bacteria begin to grow immediately, so the less time the area spends, the safer the food becomes.

Completely!

How should I deal with the rest?

• Keep only food that you know has been safely handled in the first place, which has not been dipped double or too many hands to pick it up. If you sit undressed in your backyard, get rid of it.

• Be honest in assessing what you are likely to take in the next three to four days. Although no one likes to get rid of food, it is not worth storing it in the fridge until it ends up getting rid of it anyway. If you want to save them, freeze them immediately.

Make sure the foods are stored properly. Pack meat separately from vegetables and grains. Highlight storage containers or bags with item names and dates that you have packaged in addition to the "Use" date so you can track what you should use before.

• Cool all foods thoroughly before storage. Make sure the refrigerator keeps the food cold enough, preferably no more than 40 degrees. You can help maintain a constant temperature by not overloading the refrigerator, which reduces its efficiency - another reason to feel the choice as it offers!

• When reheating, the food residue must reach an internal temperature of at least 165 ° F for at least 30 seconds to kill the bacteria. It is best to do this on the burner surface or in the oven where the microwave ovens do not heat evenly and some areas may be heated properly and some areas may not be heated enough. Be sure to use a thermometer to check the temperature, remove the food from the heat source before checking to make sure you get an accurate reading and you are not only measuring the temperature of your heat source!

Finally

Safely storing your remains not only prevents you from wasting tasty food, it prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria and reduces your exposure to foodborne diseases. Do not leave any hot or cold foods for more than two hours. Be clear about what you decide to keep, and be sure to take it within two days.

When in doubt, throw it!