How long can you safely keep leftovers in the refrigerator?

Date updated: June 08, 2007
Content provided by MayoClinic.com
Mary, Minnesota

According to the Department of Agriculture, you should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days to maintain food safety. If you don't anticipate being able to eat them within this period of time, freeze them immediately.
To help ensure food safety, refrigerate perishable foods quickly and don't let them sit for longer than two hours at room temperature or for longer than one hour if the room temperature is above 90 F (32 C). Perishable foods include meat, poultry, dairy, fish, eggs, side dishes and casseroles.
Before eating leftovers, reheat them thoroughly. Reheat leftover sauces, soups and gravies to boiling. If you're using the oven to reheat leftovers, set the temperature to no lower than 325 F (163 C) to ensure they're reheated quickly. Because bacteria multiply between temperatures of 40 F (4 C) and 140 F (60 C), reheating in slow cookers or chafing dishes isn't recommended.
Uncooked foods, such as cold salads or sandwiches, also should be eaten or refrigerated promptly.