That Giant Pot of Leftovers? Split It Before You Chill It
Food
When dinner leaves a large pot of stew behind, spoon the leftovers into several shallow containers. Dividing the food lets it cool more quickly and gives you portions you can reheat individually.
Refrigerate perishable leftovers within two hours, or within one hour if they were exposed to temperatures above 90°F (32°C). A summer picnic or hot car can put you in the shorter window.
Check the fridge with an appliance thermometer. FoodSafety.gov recommends 40°F (4°C) or below. Label the containers with the cooking date so you can track how long they’ve been stored.
