If you’ve ever wondered what’s the best and safest way to store cooked meat, eggs or rice – you’re not alone. There’s only one correct way to refrigerate leftover food.
None of us like throwing food in the bin, and most of us would rather save leftovers for another occasion. However, as some foods are more delicate than others, and it’s important to store them correctly to maintain their freshness and prevent food poisoning. If you’ve ever wondered about the best way to store leftover chicken, rice, and eggs in the fridge, you’re not alone.
Interestingly, figures have shown that the most searched food storage query is mainly about “how long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?”, with 22,200 monthly searches – an increase of 23% year on year. This shows just how common the concern is when it comes to food safety.
Salah Sun, a food biotechnologist from Beko, has explained that chicken requires extra care when it comes to storage. She stated: “When stored properly in the fridge, below 5C, cooked chicken will stay fresh for up to three days.” To avoid losing track of how long it has been in the fridge, she recommends labelling the container with the date it was cooked and stored. To keep cooked chicken as fresh as possible, Salah suggests using a glass airtight container and refrigerating it within two hours of cooking. She continued: “Glass containers are a good choice for food storage as they don’t retain odours or become stained. The thermal stability of glass containers helps to protect against temperature fluctuations when the fridge door is opened, providing an extra layer of food safety.”
According to food safety guidelines, both cooked rice and eggs can also be stored in the fridge, but they must be handled properly. Cooked rice should ideally be consumed within 24 hours and should be cooled quickly before being placed in the fridge to prevent bacterial growth. Eggs should be stored in their original packaging and consumed before their best before date to ensure freshness.
If not stored correctly, chicken, rice, and eggs can develop bacteria over time, increasing the risk of food poisoning. To preserve their quality and flavour, cooked chicken and rice should always be kept in airtight containers. This prevents them from absorbing moisture or odours from other foods in the fridge, which could affect their taste and texture.
By following these simple storage tips, you can safely enjoy your leftovers while reducing food waste, ensuring that your meals remain fresh, delicious, and safe to eat.
