AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question I have a 8 x 12 tin foil dish of macaroni and cheese casserole that has not been eaten at all. The caterer prepared it and it was kept warm in a chafing dish over a sterno on a cool day. Since it was not eaten, I then put it in the refrigerator. How long can it safely be kept and then served? It was prepared this past Friday pm and I would like to use it on Wednesday. Thanks.
Answer Hi Karen,
The recommendation for holding leftovers in the refrigerator is 3-4 days. Since this was put in the refrigerator Friday, that means it should be used by Tuesday. Since you want to use it Wednesday, it would have been best to freeze the dish and take it out the of freezer on Tuesday to defrost, then reheat on Wednesday.
Since it is already Monday, I suggest you freeze the dish and then reheat it from a frozen state on Wednesday. This would be your safest option at this point. Reheat in a 325-350 degree oven, covered with foil, until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
