After the Chuseok holiday, there are often leftovers such as jeon (pancakes) or rice cakes. At this time, people tend to store the food at room temperature or cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator, but if not careful, food poisoning or enteritis can occur. Especially this year, with an unusual heatwave continuing until mid-September, extra caution is needed.

 

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

 

When storing cooked food, it is best to keep hot foods at above 60°C and cold foods at below 5°C by cooling them quickly. Storing cooked food on the veranda can cause the temperature to rise due to sunlight during the day, increasing the risk of bacterial growth. Cooked food should not be left at room temperature and should be consumed within two hours if possible. Stored food must also be reheated to at least 75°C before consumption.

◇Avoid greasy foods touching the wrap

 

When storing food with plastic wrap, you should carefully check the type. Foods high in fat should not come into direct contact with the wrap. Fatty foods like ribs, boiled meat, or pancakes are incompatible with plastic wrap and are not safe. According to the Korea Food & Drug Administration, most additives used in household plastic wraps are non-volatile and cannot penetrate foods that are not in direct contact, but they dissolve more easily at higher temperatures and have a tendency to dissolve in oil. It is also written on the wrap packaging to "avoid direct contact with foods high in fat."

To use plastic wrap safely, it is recommended to place greasy foods in a shallow bowl to prevent direct contact with the wrap. When wrapping greasy meat with meat, it should be stored at low temperatures, and when reheating refrigerated food wrapped in plastic wrap in the microwave, ensure the wrap does not come into direct contact with the food. Leaving a small gap to allow air circulation is also important.

.

◇Rice cakes should be frozen in the freezer

 

It is safest to eat rice cakes as soon as possible. If left at room temperature, consume within at least two hours. If you want to store rice cakes for a longer period, freezing them in the freezer is also an option. However, the texture of the rice cakes may deteriorate during the thawing process, which can reduce quality. For home refrigerators, it is best to set the temperature to the lowest setting when freezing rice cakes. Even if frozen rice cakes are thawed, if they show signs of spoilage, they should be discarded immediately. Do not refreeze thawed rice cakes, as there is a high risk of bacterial growth.

 

 

==============

It's not good to keep it in the freezer for too long.

For storage for the time being, it is better than room temperature.

It's good to keep it in the freezer.