Food Storage Safety: How to stow and when to throw

Nobody wants to throw away food. But how sure are you that the food you’ve stored in the fridge for days (or even weeks!) is still safe for your family to eat? Anthony Herrera of food safety company Ecolab Philippines, Inc. answers some frequently asked questions on proper food storage. Take this quiz and test your know-how on food storage safety.

1. What should your refrigerator’s temperature be to preserve food’s freshness?
A. Below 0°C
B. 0-5°C
C. 5-100°C

ANSWER: B
ServSafe, the food industry leader in food safety training and certification, recommends refrigerators to be set at 5°C or below.

2. Can pork, chicken, fish and shrimp be stored in one compartment inside the fridge?
A. No, fish, poultry and meat should be stored separately inside the fridge.
B. Yes, pork, chicken and fish products wrapped separately may be stored in one compartment.
C. It is best not to buy them all at the same time.

ANSWER:  B
Meat, poultry and seafood products may be stored in one compartment as long as you wrap them separately to prevent cross-contamination. Poultry has the highest microbial load, followed by pork, beef, and then fish and seafood.

3. Is it okay to buy ground meat even if you won’t consume it within the next two days or so?
A. Yes, as long as it is kept well frozen.
B. No, it should be consumed immediately upon purchase.
C. It depends on the brand of meat products you buy.

ANSWER: A
Ground meat spoils faster because it has more surface area exposed to bacteria. Recommended storage period is 1-2 days in the refrigerator, and 2-3 days in the freezer.

 

Click here to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

 

4. What is the average shelf life of poultry if properly stored in the freezer at -18°C (0°F)?
A. 2-4 months
B. 10-12 months
C. 4-6 weeks

ANSWER: B
According to the US FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration), poultry kept properly in the freezer will last for 12 months.

5. What is the average shelf life of fish and seafood if properly stored in the freezer at -18°C (0°F)?
A. 3- 6 months
B. 1 month
C. 6 weeks

ANSWER: A
According to the US FDA, fresh fish, shrimp, and scallops kept properly in the freezer will last for 3-6 months.

6. You’ll know your chicken’s not safe to eat when...
A. Wing tips are reddish.
B. It has been in the freezer for more than a week.
C. It begins to have purplish or greenish color and abnormal odor.

ANSWER: C
Poultry that has started to spoil may have purplish or greenish color, abnormal odor, stickiness under the wings and around joints and dark wing tips (red tips are acceptable).

7. Is it safe to buy eggs that are not refrigerated?
A. No.
B. Yes.
C. It doesn’t matter.

ANSWER: A
Eggs should be stored at 7°C or lower, which means they have to be refrigerated.  This is especially recommended if serving eggs to pregnant women, children, elderly, and sick.

 

Click here to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

 

8. Are cooked eggs stored in the refrigerator for a day safe enough to eat?
A. No, eggs spoil easily.
B. Yes, as long as they’re boiled or hard cooked.
C. It doesn’t matter.

ANSWER:  B
According to the US FDA, hard cooked or boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for 7 days.

9. What is the best way to keep an open milk carton fresh for your kids?
A. Reseal and refrigerate.
B. Freeze the milk.
C. Leave milk in room temperature.

ANSWER:  A or B
A. You can also freeze milk as long as you freeze it before the “use by” date. Defrost it in the fridge so it doesn’t get too warm. However, freezing may affect quality.

10. How do you properly store an open can of fruit?
A. Store can inside the fridge.
B. Transfer contents into another container then refrigerate.
C. Just eat them right away.

ANSWER:  B
Refrigerate uneaten portion in a glass or plastic container. Storing opened cans inside the refrigerator is not recommended because it may change the color and taste of the fruit.

11. What is the ideal time to prepare your kid’s baon?
A. Prepare baon the night before and freeze. Reheat in the morning.
B. Prepare baon in the morning to ensure freshness.
C. Both A and B.

ANSWER:  C
For on-the-go moms, it is okay to prepare sandwiches the night before and store them in the freezer. However, only add veggies and mayonnaise in the morning. Hand washing and using clean utensils will help keep food fresh.

 

Click here to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to answer more questions about food storage and safety.

 

12. Your daughter brings her baon to school in the morning. Until what time is her packed lunch safe to eat?
A. It depends on the ingredients.
B. Packed lunches are safe to eat all day.
C. Until 4 hours after it is prepared.

ANSWER:  C
Food stored between 5-57°C is still safe to eat within 4 hours. For afternoon snacks, pack dry food that won’t spoil like biscuits and cookies.

13. What is the best storage container for your son’s lunchtime baon?
A. Plastic containers
B. Metal lunch boxes to keep heat intact, thus food remains fresh
C. It doesn’t matter.

ANSWER:  C
Any clean and sealed containers will do. Just be sure your son eats his lunch within the recommended time frame of 4 hours.

14. The power went out, what should you do with meat, milk and other items stored in the fridge?
A. Leave food inside and minimize opening of the fridge to preserve cold air until power supply is back.
B. Consume all perishable items inside the fridge before they spoil.
C. Sprinkle salt over meat items to preserve them.

ANSWER:  A
Since cold air slows down bacteria growth, keep refrigerator door closed as much as possible. If power outage is taking long and fridge begins to defrost, place dry ice in the freezer and normal ice in the refrigerator.

H2O Shelf Life
Refrigeration does not kill or reduce microorgamisms. Tap water should be replaced every 2-3 days, while distilled and mineral water can be stored for longer periods.

ServSafe says...

Food becomes unsafe to eat if exposed for more than 4 hours at 5-57°C. At this temperature,
bacteria doubles every 20 minutes.


 

Photography by Jun Pinzon