Ah, leftovers—some people love them and others hate them. If you are a fan, there are a few important recommendations for handling leftovers safely.
First, it is important the meal was initially cooked to the recommended safe internal temperatures. Within two hours of cooking or after it is removed from being kept warm, your leftovers should be cooled rapidly to keep the food out of the danger zone of between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F. Package leftovers tightly and promptly for storage in the refrigerator or freezer. For big batches, like soups or large cuts of meat, separate into smaller...