Storing leftovers
If your family is like ours, this past Thanksgiving weekend was about three things: giving thanks, family and food-lots and lots of food. And that means lots and lots of leftovers. And, after all that work-weren't they impressed?-it's easy just to throw the leftovers in the refrigerator and join the party.
But if you want your food-and your family-to be safe, that may be the worst thing to do.
Believe it or not, the warm food you just put in the refrigerator is not your biggest concern. It's everything else that will warm up around it. You've just put bacteria in "the zone."
Bacteria will multiply rapidly between 15 and 57 degrees Celsius (41 to 135 degree Fahrenheit). If your food stays in this danger zone too long, you and your family could be facing a serious illness.
Here are a few tricks to help keep you safe.
For liquids, place the bowl or pot in a cold-water bath in the sink to help cool it down rapidly. Stir the liquid often to speed up the process and change the water as it warms.
For solids, place them on a wire rack to make sure air circulates well around them.
And remember, if, for any reason, the leftovers are still not cold enough when you put them away, do not cover them as that will just keep the heat in and it will stay warm longer.
These tips should help speed up the cooling process, give you better quality leftovers and, when the party is over, sleep better.
For more information, visit Health Canada's food safety website at http://tinyurl.com/foodsafetytips
Amitiée gourmandeChef Marc
