Refrigerators should be kept at 40 F or cooler, and freezer should be set at 0 F or lower. Use thawed foods immediately. Reheat leftovers to 165 F or a rolling boil to kill bacteria. Label all leftovers with a date, and if necessary list the contents and the number of servings remaining. If more than one container of a certain food is available, use the older item first, if it has not gone bad.
Rotation ensures that products are used while they are fresh.
Do not use any product that is past its expiration date. If there is mold growing on any food, throw all of the product away. This includes throwing away the loaf of bread if one slice is moldy, or disposing of an entire package of cheese if one slice has gone bad. If any food item does not have the appropriate look, smell, or texture, throw it out. Return to Safe Food in Ohio Top Copyright 1996, The Ohio State University.