Elder Home Care in Sacramento CA
The biggest focus on Thanksgiving is the food and for most families that means plenty of leftovers. Thanksgiving leftovers are delicious and comforting, and a great way to save time throughout the
busy holiday season to come. In order to make sure that your loved one and the rest of your family can make the most of their Thanksgiving leftovers and stay healthy, however, you must keep food safety in mind. Storing leftovers properly is critical to reducing the risk of foodborne illness and infection and ensuring that your parent can enjoy these as much as possible in the days to come.
Use these tips to help ensure proper food safety for Thanksgiving leftovers:
- Use the two-hour rule. The USDA recommends that food remain off the heat or out of the cold, depending on the type of food, for no more than two hours. This does not start at serving, but rather at the moment that the food is removed from the heat or the cold. This helps to prevent the food from getting into the danger zone of temperature
- Store in two-inch depth. Avoid piling food onto plates or mounding them into storage containers to store in the refrigerator. This makes it much more difficult for the food to cool properly. Instead, go for a depth of two inches in any storage container that you use so that the food will get down to a safe temperature quickly
- Label each container carefully. Label each storage container with what the food is and when you put it in the refrigerator. This will help to ensure that you use it while it is still safe
- Limit to four days in the refrigerator. Consume any leftovers stored in the refrigerator within four days to ensure that they stay safe. Remember that the two-hour rule continues to apply even with leftovers, so when you take them out to reheat and enjoy them, get them back into the refrigerator within two hours or discard
- Freeze for later. It does not have to be within a few days of the holiday for your parent to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers. In fact, freezing leftovers prepares them for a fast and delicious meal during the busy holiday season. Divide food up into individual servings and freeze, then consume within one month for best flavor.
The holiday season is a fantastic time for you to consider starting elder care for your aging parent. The season from Thanksgiving through the end of the year can be busy and stressful, making it feel as though you are not able to fulfill your care tasks for your parent or the tasks of preparing for the holidays as effectively as you would want to. Rather than allowing you to enjoy the holidays, this can make you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and upset. An elderly home care services provider can step in and fill care gaps that might arise as you work on preparation for Thanksgiving celebrations. They can then give your aging parent personalized services tailored to helping them manage their individual limitations, challenges, and needs as they celebrate with their loved ones.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Sacramento, CA, please contact the caring staff at Support for Home. Proudly Serving Sacramento, Yolo, Placer & El Dorado Counties. Call Today (916) 482-8484 or (530) 792-8484
Source: http://www.eatouteatwell.com/long-can-roasted-turkey-safely-stay-table-leftovers-fridge/