Health Tip: Keep Takeout Meals Safe

(HealthDay News) — Even if you’ve taken a night off from cooking and have called for takeout, it’s still important to practice food safety.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service offers these suggestions:

Never allow food to sit at room temperature for longer than two hours. Time is reduced to one hour if outside in temperature greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep hot foods at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Cold foods should be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use a food thermometer to make sure food is kept hot. Use chafing dishes or slow cookers if you don’t plan to eat right away.
If food won’t be eaten within two hours, use shallow storage containers and refrigerate.
Throw away all food that hasn’t been properly stored.