MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - As the Thanksgiving holiday is over with, make sure you properly took care of the leftovers.

It is best to store all leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer no more than two hours after cooking. Any food that is not going to be eaten within four days should be thrown away. If the food is not going to be used within four days it can be frozen. Freezing can extend leftovers’ lifespan considerably, but it is best to consume it within four months for taste reasons, preventing food from drying out and losing flavor.

When refrigerating food, refrigerators should be set at 34 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Use shallow containers to package left overs, no more than two inches deep. This allows the food to cool quickly and evenly, preventing bacteria growth.

It is crucial that left overs are re-heated to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be sure of bacterial growth prevention. As a side note to Thanksgiving preparation, sometimes when cooking stuffing in a turkey, it does not reach a hot enough temperature; use a meat thermometer to make sure the stuffing reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

This information was provided by WebMD.