For those who’ve suffered from food poisoning in the past, you’ll know it can be a miserable experience. From diarrhoea to vomiting and flu-like symptoms, the effects of food poisoning are ghastly and can last for a couple of days, or even several wretched weeks in some cases of listeria (yes, you read that right!).
Thankfully, storing, handling and cooking food correctly can significantly reduce your chances of being affected by illnesses such as salmonella, E. coli or listeria. Here are some of the most common questions you might have about food safety.
WATCH: How to store your leftover Christmas ham. Article continues after video.
Is it safe to eat leftover rice?
It might seem fairly harmless, but rice can be a source of bacillus cereus, which sounds like a constellation of stars but is actually bacteria that can grow in rice that’s left at room temperature for too long.
Always refrigerate leftover rice within an hour of cooking. You can reheat it safely a day later, as long as it’s reheated to steaming hotness. Don’t be tempted to reheat it more than once.
Is it safe to eat mouldy cheese?
The safety of mouldy cheese depends on the cheese type. If it’s a hard cheese (think cheddar), you can safely cut a couple of centimetres around the mouldy spot and throw that part out – the rest of the block should be fine.
Mouldy soft cheeses such as ricotta, brie and feta, however, are another matter – throw ’em out.
Is it safe to eat meat with freezer burn?
Freezer burn is that discoloured, dry patch which forms on frozen foods when moisture is lost.
The trouble is, freezer burn can cause a loss of taste. So while it’s safe to eat, it might not be the most delicious option for your dinner. If it’s only a small patch of freezer burn, it’s best to cut it away and cook the rest.
Is it safe to eat raw eggs?
If you fancy the idea of raw eggs in your smoothie, or as a dubious hangover cure, you’ll want to make sure you avoid salmonella.
Make sure the egg comes straight from the fridge and isn’t left on the bench for a few hours. If any eggshell falls into the egg, throw it out – salmonella generally lives on the shell, which is also why you should chuck out any eggs that are cracked, dirty or past their best-before date. And if you’re pregnant, elderly or a child, steer clear of raw eggs.
Is it safe to eat salads left out?
We’ve all been there – you’re having a family barbecue and you’re about to refrigerate the leftover uneaten salads, but get distracted by a party guest or a glass of wine, meaning that veggie bowl sits on the table for ages.
Be careful: to avoid foodborne illnesses, salads should be refrigerated within two hours – or one hour if it’s hotter than around 32 degrees.
Is it safe to eat refrigerated food after a power outage?
If your fridge ever loses power, try to avoid opening the door unless you absolutely have to. The cold air inside will help keep food cold for a while, but if the power outage has been more than four hours, it’s too risky to eat refrigerated meat, eggs and salads.
Hard cheese and sauces, however, should be fine. If the outage is less than four hours, most things will be OK to eat, but any cooked leftovers should be eaten the same day.
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