You cooked enough food for two days, stored the leftovers and expected them to last. But the next morning, something smells suspicious. Before blaming the weather or the refrigerator, take a look at your kitchen habits. Sometimes, the smallest storage mistakes can make perfectly good homemade food spoil much faster.
Leaving food outside for too long
Many people wait until food reaches room temperature before putting it away, sometimes leaving it on the kitchen counter for hours. This gives bacteria more time to multiply. Refrigerate perishable food within two hours of cooking.
Using the same spoon repeatedly
Tasting your curry and dipping the same spoon back into the container can transfer saliva and microorganisms. Always use a clean spoon when serving food you intend to store.
Storing food in wet containers
A freshly washed container may look clean, but leftover moisture and food particles can create hygiene problems. Wash containers thoroughly and dry them before storing food.
Keeping the refrigerator door open
Can’t decide what to eat? Try not to spend five minutes staring into the refrigerator. Repeatedly allowing warm air inside can affect its temperature. Close the door promptly to help maintain safe storage conditions.
Mixing old leftovers with fresh food
Adding today’s freshly cooked curry to yesterday’s leftovers may save space, but it makes it difficult to track how old the food is. Store fresh and leftover food separately, preferably with dates on the containers.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)
