Ahead of World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2026, Council is encouraging the community to follow a few simple steps to keep leftover meals safe.
"Eating leftovers is a great way to save time, reduce food waste and stretch the household budget, but it's important to handle them safely to reduce the risk of food poisoning," Sarah Nagel, Council's Acting Director Sustainable Environment and Economy, said.
"By following a few simple tips, residents can safely enjoy leftovers," she said.
Recommendations include:
- Cool leftovers quickly and refrigerate or freeze within two hours.
- Always store leftovers below 5°C and keep separate from raw foods such as meat.
- Eat most leftovers within three days while cooked rice and pasta should be consumed within two days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to three months and defrost in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.
- Reheat to eat. When reheating leftovers, make sure food is hot all the way through (at least 60˚C). This helps kill harmful bacteria that may have developed. Take extra care with takeaway rice, which is best eaten soon after purchase.
- Bacteria grow quickly between 5°C and 60°C. If your leftover food has been out of the fridge for under two hours, refrigerate it or use it straight away. If it has been out for two to four hours, use it immediately or discard it; and if it has been out for more than four hours, throw it out, remembering that all time out of the fridge adds up cumulatively.
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