Buzz
1. Consume Food Promptly
You should consume freshly prepared food on the same day, considering the weather. Avoid leaving cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours as it may spoil and lose its nutritional value. If food is left out for more than 2 hours, refrain from refrigerating it. Reheat leftover food before refrigerating, then allow it to cool before storing it in the fridge. Putting hot food directly into the refrigerator can raise its temperature, potentially affecting other foods and creating favorable conditions for bacteria growth.
You should reheat leftover food before allowing it to cool, then store it in the refrigerator's cool compartment. Avoid refrigerating hot food immediately as it can raise the fridge's temperature, impacting other food items and creating an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
2. Preserve Cooked Food
Traditional Tet dishes such as sausage, square sticky rice cake, and frozen meat are typically prepared or bought in large quantities for multiple days. Due to their richness, these dishes often end up as leftovers after Tet. Store these items in a cool, dry environment to prevent spoilage. Since these dishes can become overwhelming, it's common to have excess leftovers after Tet. Store these foods in a cool, dry place, avoiding moisture.
Spring weather is often humid and warm, making these dishes prone to spoilage. To prevent this, it's best to store each type of food separately.
Store square sticky rice cakes and cylindrical sticky rice cakes in the fridge's cool compartment, only cutting the portion needed. Wrap the leftover portion tightly with food wrap. When serving, steam or reheat the cakes to make them more appealing. If the cakes develop mild white mold or fermentation at a mild level, cut off the affected part and consume the unaffected portion for health safety.
For sausages, store them at a temperature below 25°C for food safety, preserving their flavor for longer. When stored properly, sausages can last 3 to 4 days in a cool compartment and up to 10 days in the freezer.
Frozen foods such as shrimp, fish, and meat should be divided into individual portions before placing them in the fridge. When thawing frozen food, it's advisable to use it all to prevent refreezing and minimize the chance of bacterial infiltration.
Consume food items in the order they were purchased, prioritizing those bought earlier to prevent them from exceeding their expiration date. This not only maintains freshness but also prevents health hazards.
Organize food items based on their purchase order. Use items purchased earlier first to prevent them from exceeding their expiration date, which can compromise both taste and health.
4. Fresh Produce
Fresh produce like vegetables and fruits tend to spoil quickly. To preserve them for a longer time, avoid washing them. Just remove any wilted leaves, bruised parts, and roots, then store them in a cool, airy place.
Before refrigerating, ensure you wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly and let them dry completely. Then, tightly seal them in a bag and place the bag in the refrigerator's cool compartment at 5°C.
5. Organize Food Properly
Group similar foods together based on their required storage temperature. Place them in designated areas for optimal preservation. For instance, place lighter foods in the top compartment, prepared foods in the middle, and vegetables and roots in the bottom compartment.
The leftover food preservation tips listed above are aimed to help you effectively store excess food after Lunar New Year. If you're considering purchasing a new refrigerator, you can visit Media Mart's store directly or contact us via hotline: 1900 6788 for efficient advice and support.
