Published on 17 December 2023
Facts about leftover food you need to know before reheating your dinner from last night.
Have you ever cooked or ordered too much food, and decided to not waste and save the leftovers in the fridge for the following day?
You are not alone – eating leftover food can be common in most Singaporean households.
While it might be a norm for some, there are dangers to eating leftover food that you might not be aware of.
Reheating food may not always kill bacteria
Though many may deem food to be safe for consumption after it has been reheated, Ms Bernice Tan, a dietitian at National University Polyclinics (NUP) says that “bacteria multiplies quickly between 5°C and 60°C”.
Therefore, it is important that you keep food out of this range of temperature to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
“To minimise the risk of bacterial growth and food-borne illnesses, it is crucial to ensure the proper storage and reheating of food that is kept overnight. This is especially so if the food has been kept at room temperature,” cautioned Ms Tan.
In consultation with Ms Bernice Tan, Dietitian, NUP.
Download the full infographics here.
