Leftovers During Pregnancy: Storage, Reheating, and Takeout
How to refrigerate leftovers promptly, check common storage times, and reheat cooked meals to 165°F during pregnancy.
Cooked food needs to be refrigerated within two hours of cooking, whether you’ve already finished the meal or are waiting for it to start.
ColumbiaDoctors: The Microbiologist’s Guide to Safe Leftovers Read the original source
The short answer: Cooked leftovers can fit into a pregnancy diet when they were stored promptly and reheated thoroughly. FDA's pregnancy food-safety guidance says to reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C). A food thermometer is more reliable than judging the center by touch or by steam at the edge of a dish.
How soon should I refrigerate leftovers?
FDA advises refrigerating or freezing prepared food and leftovers within two hours. If the surrounding temperature is above 90°F (32°C), the limit is one hour. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. If perishable food stayed out longer, discard it rather than relying on reheating to undo unsafe storage.
For restaurant leftovers, FDA advises going directly home and refrigerating them promptly. If you cannot get home within two hours of being served, leave the leftovers behind.
How many days can I keep them?
The FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart gives three to four days in the refrigerator for many cooked leftovers, including cooked meat or poultry, soups, stews, and pizza. This is a general limit for food that was refrigerated promptly at 40°F or below; check the chart or product directions for foods with a different limit. Labeling the container with the date makes the decision easier.
How do I reheat a meal evenly?
Reheat leftovers to 165°F throughout. FDA notes that microwaves can leave cold spots, so cover and stir or rotate the food, allow any instructed standing time, and check the temperature in more than one place. Bring leftover sauces, soups, and gravies to a boil.
PregNut's food nutrition pages describe reference foods and nutrients per 100 g. They cannot tell whether your own meal was cooled, stored, or reheated safely. For a different reheating question about packaged cold cuts, see our deli meat guide.
Sources: FDA cooking and leftovers guidance, FDA ready-to-eat food storage guidance, FDA eating out guidance, and FoodSafety.gov cold storage chart. This guide is educational and does not replace prenatal care.