New Delhi, June 20 -- Long working hours and increased demand for meal preparation made leftovers a natural component of our eating habits today. While refrigerators do help preserve food and reduce waste, a common misconception is that stored food will last forever as long as it is kept cold. However, incorrect storage, untimely refrigeration and repeated reheating create an environment for bacteria to grow, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

It is crucial to know the limits of how long food can be stored safely, as well as handling practises, to ensure that the food supplied does not deteriorate in quality and make us ill. Having an idea about when leftovers should be eaten-or thrown out-could make a big difference.

Sandhya Sin...