Leftover meat, pancakes, and rice cakes from Chuseok... Storing them like this can lead to food poisoning.

After the Chuseok holiday, there's always leftover food like jeon (Korean pancakes) or tteok (rice cakes). Many people store these leftovers at room temperature or wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate them, but doing so can lead to food poisoning or gastroenteritis. This year, with the unusually hot weather continuing into mid-September, extra caution is needed.

 

◇Do not leave it at room temperature; store it at the correct temperature.

 

When storing cooked food, it's best to keep warm food above 60°C (140°F), and cool cold food quickly to below 5°C (43°F). Storing cooked food on the veranda can increase the temperature during the day due to sunlight, which can lead to bacterial growth. Cooked food should never be left at room temperature; it should be consumed within two hours if possible. Stored food should also be reheated to at least 75°C (156°F) before consumption.

◇Oily food should not come into contact with the wrap.

 

When storing food in plastic wrap, be sure to carefully consider the type. Foods high in fat should be kept away from the wrap. Oily foods like ribs, boiled pork, and pancakes are not safe to wrap, as they don't work well with the wrap. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, most additives used in household wraps are non-volatile and won't penetrate food unless they come into direct contact. However, they tend to leach out at higher temperatures and dissolve in oil. The wrap packaging also states, "Avoid direct contact with fatty foods."

To use plastic wrap safely, place fatty foods in a concave container and wrap them so they don't come into direct contact with the wrap. Fatty meats wrapped in meat wrap should be stored at low temperatures. When reheating refrigerated food in the microwave, avoid direct contact between the wrap and the food. It's also important to leave a small gap to allow for airflow.

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◇Tteok, keep frozen in the freezer

 

It's safest to eat rice cakes immediately. If they're at room temperature, eat them within two hours. Freezing them is another option if you want to keep them longer. However, the thawing process can deteriorate the texture and quality of the rice cakes. For home refrigerators, it's best to freeze them at the lowest temperature. Even frozen rice cakes that exhibit the characteristics of spoiled rice cakes after thawing should be discarded immediately. Never refreeze thawed rice cakes, as this increases the risk of bacteria growth.

 

 

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You shouldn't keep it in the freezer for too long either.

For the time being, it is better to store at room temperature.

It's better to keep it in the freezer