Food Storage

After a great party or dinner celebration, deciding what to do with a table full of leftovers may not be at the forefront of your mind, but it's an important part of partying. It's certainly a pity to waste good food, but letting leftovers linger without temperature control can be unsafe.

Any food left out for more than two hours is susceptible to harmful bacterial growth and should be disposed of. This goes for any part of the meal, and it's especially important if your leftovers have been sitting out in the summer heat. This holds true for both cold and hot foods, so be sure to serve foods immediately before mealtime and store anything that's sitting out as soon as the meal is coming to a close.

Bacteria thrive between 41 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit - this is known as the temperature "Danger Zone" for food storage. As soon as the food hits that range, bacteria start growing immediately, so the less time spent in that zone, the safer the food is.

Wrap it up!

How should you handle what's left?

• Save only the food you know to have been handled safely in the first place, and which hasn't been tainted by double-dipping or by lots of hands picking at it. If it's been sitting out uncovered in your backyard, get rid of it.

• Be honest in assessing what you are likely to eat over the next three or four days. While no one likes throwing away food, it's not worth storing it in your fridge just to end up throwing it out anyway. If you'd like to save them, freeze them immediately.

• Be sure to store foods properly. Pack meats separately from vegetables and grains. Mark the storage containers or bags with the item names and the dates you packed them in addition to a "use-by" date so you can keep track of what to use by when.

• Cool all foods completely before storage. Make sure your refrigerator is working to keep food cold enough, preferably no more than 40 degrees. You can help keep the temperature consistent by not overloading the refrigerator, which compromises its efficiency - another reason to be choosy about what you're saving!

• When reheating, leftovers must reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 seconds to kill bacteria. It's best to do this on the stove top or in the oven as microwaves don't heat evenly and some areas may be heated properly and others may not be hot enough. Be sure to use a thermometer to check the temperature, removing the food from the heat source before checking the to make sure you're getting an accurate reading and you're not just measuring the temperature of your heat source!

In Conclusion

Storing your leftovers safely not only keeps you from wasting delicious food, it prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria and limits your exposure of foodborne illnesses. Any hot or cold foods should not be left out for more than 2 hours. Be choosy about what you decide to save, and be sure to eat it within a couple of days.

The Ultimate Guide to Cooking With Canola Oil

 From delicious jalebis to your favorite vegetable fried rice, canola oil is the perfect cooking oil for frying. Pure canola oil is an edible oil derived from the plants of the Brassicaceae family, the same family to which mustard and rapeseed belong.

Canola oil is deemed as one of the most versatile cooking oil due to its light flavor, high smoke point and smooth texture. Its light texture makes it suitable for sauteing and stir-frying purposes; it is perfect for deep-frying due to its high smoke point, and being neutral in taste, it is the right choice for traditional Indian dishes with their trademark spices and flavors. This oil can even be used as an oil for baking delightful cakes and muffins as it reduces the overall fat content of these tasty dishes while maintaining moisture at the same time.

According to the leading chefs at various hotels across India, the high smoke point of canola oil makes it an ideal choice for Indian kitchens as it only enhances the taste of the dishes and makes them healthier. In fact, the consumption of canola oil is continuously increasing in India due to its various health benefits and suitability for all cooking methods and cuisines.

An Indian consumer survey recently showed that more and more people are now preferring canola oil over other cooking oils. Being a vitamin enriched cooking oil, it provides the perfect cooking experience which essentially means less burning and more cooking. Apart from this, canola oil is termed as one of the "heart healthy oils" and "diabetes care oils" which make it easily fall into the category of "healthy oils."

Whatever you want to cook - parathas, sabzis or samosas, using this oil will fill your entire kitchen with a delicious smell and provide your taste buds a perfect experience. The best part is that you don't have to compromise on your health as it is an Omega-3 oil which is rich in antioxidants and "good fats" like monounsaturated fatty acids.

If you're in search for the best oil for frying, try using Hudson Canola Oil which is a light and non-greasy oil that will provide you with a smoke-free experience. It will fry your favorite foods without coating them with a heavy layer of grease and keep the overall fat content low. Even when deep frying dishes like jalebis, you'll enjoy less greasy food without compromising on taste.