Leftovers & Prepared
Takeaway meals
Fridge (4°C / 40°F)
3–4 days
Freezer (−18°C / 0°F)
2–3 months
Worth knowing
Reheating doesn't reset the clock. Toxins from bacteria can survive heating even after the bacteria die.
Store it right
- Move out of the takeaway container into a sealed one and chill within two hours.
- Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, once only.
Signs it has gone off
- Sour or fizzy smell.
- Slimy sauce or rice.
- Any mould.
Never taste food to test it — a small bite is enough to make you ill.
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