Leftovers Keep for Three to Four Days in the Refrigerator

How long is too long for last night’s dinner? The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives a clear answer: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 3 to 4 months. The freezer limit is about taste, not safety. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer. After thawing, the food should be used within 3 to 4 days or can be refrozen. Reheating has a number of its own. When reheating leftovers, the agency says to be sure they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured with a food thermometer, and to bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil. It is also safe to reheat frozen leftovers without thawing them first.