India, Oct. 12 -- Do you also leave cooked food on the counter to let it cool? Everyday shortcuts like this may make your work in the kitchen easier, but leaving food out for too long can increase the risk of food poisoning.

You may associate food poisoning with eating out, but even home-cooked meals require careful handling and storage to stay safe. Ingredient quality and hygiene during cooking, sure, are relevant for food safety, but what happens after a meal is prepared is also significant. How long the food is left out, how it is refrigerated, and how it is reheated can all affect food safety.

Moreover, proper food storage can help prevent unnecessary food wastage too. An expert commented on how storage mistakes can compromise food ...