Taking food home from a restaurant or storing the excess from last night's dinner isn't worth it if the food makes you sick.

The Foodsafety.gov website offers these guidelines for safe preparation of leftovers:

  • Keep leftovers in shallow storage containers.
  • If freezing, do so within two hours of cooking.
  • Eat all refrigerated leftovers within four days, or throw them out.
  • Eat frozen leftovers within four months.
  • Make sure all leftovers are thoroughly reheated before eating.
Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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