Thanksgiving leftovers can and should be safely stored this way

After Thanksgiving dinner, most people have an excess of food in the house left over.

Cooking large meals can be a way to stretch your budget — then take a break from cooking and enjoy the leftovers for a few days.

So, how exactly should you store all this food — and how long can you safely eat leftovers? 

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Two food experts shared smart leftover food safety guidelines.

Here’s what you need to know to stay safe — and to waste as little food as possible. 

If you're creating a meal with meat or seafood, be sure to refrigerate leftovers in a timely fashion to preserve the meal. 

The leftovers should be fine for a few days. 

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"Our general rule is that all cooked food is safe in a refrigerator kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to four days," said Jesus Garcia, public affairs specialist with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, in Washington, D.C.

"By the fourth day, you should consume, freeze it or discard it," he said.

All perishable items, including raw and cooked meat and poultry, should be refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the refrigerator or being cooked, said Garcia.

"After two hours in the 'danger zone,' which is temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, bacteria can multiply to dangerous levels and cause the food to become unsafe," Garcia told Fox News Digital. 

It's important to break down large meals like turkey or roast beef into smaller portions and store them in shallow containers so that items may cool faster, said Garcia.

Other smart strategies are to cover leftovers, wrap them in airtight packaging or seal them in storage containers, he said. 

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"These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture and prevent leftovers from picking up odors from other food in the refrigerator. Immediately refrigerate or freeze the wrapped leftovers for rapid cooling," said Garcia.

Vanessa Imus, a registered dietitian in Bothell, Washington, told Fox News Digital that leftovers should always be put away in a storage container with a well-fitting lid or covered sufficiently in airtight packaging to keep bacteria out. 

She also said it's very important to cool food quickly. 

"This means that if you have a big pot of soup or a large cut of meat, you'll need to break it down into smaller portions before placing it in the refrigerator," Imus said.

A whole turkey placed in the fridge will take longer to cool than sliced meats put away in several small containers, she said.

You should not rely entirely on sight or smell to determine if leftovers are edible and safe, Imus pointed out.

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"Although I've seen friends do the 'sniff test,' that is not an accurate way to measure the safety of your leftovers," she said. 

"Your food may look perfectly fine, but that doesn't mean it is perfectly fine."

Instead, she agreed with Garcia about sticking to the four-day rule. 

"If you didn't label your food and you can't remember when you originally prepared it, then it's time to throw it out," said Imus. 

"You would much rather be safe than sorry as the risk of food poisoning goes up after four days in the refrigerator." 

Always make sure to reheat leftovers to 165 degrees, said Imus. 

"That means you'll need a thermometer to check. Since microwaves can cause some cold pockets, be sure to stir and turn food as you reheat it," she added.

"The problem that people run into is that they're busy hosting and entertaining and not paying attention to how long food is sitting out," Imus told Fox News Digital.  

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"Plus, the guests might be coming and going or lingering over the food table throughout the evening." 

She warned that this usually leads to food sitting out far beyond the recommended two-hour time limit. 

"Be sure to check the time when you set the food out and get it put away in the fridge within two hours. Better yet, set a timer to remind yourself," added Imus.

Garcia said Thanksgiving leftovers will sustain you from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. 

"Reheating in an oven or a microwave will take longer for dense foods such as turkey or roast beef than for less dense foods like breads and small vegetables," he said.

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"Leftovers should reach a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by a food thermometer," he also said.  

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The experts again emphasized breaking down the turkey or other large dishes into smaller portions and storing those smaller portions in shallow containers.

Handwashing is the first step to avoiding foodborne illness, said Garcia. 

"Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water before, during and after handling food. Then pat dry with clean paper towels," he said.