Leftover Storage Calculator
Tell us what the leftovers are and when they finished cooking to get a clear date to eat them by.
Reference and detail
Cool it quickly
Get cooked food into the fridge within one to two hours. Spreading it out in a shallow dish or splitting it between containers cools it much faster than leaving a large pot to stand.
Reheat once, until steaming
Reheat leftovers only once and make sure they are steaming hot all the way through, not just warm on the outside.
Questions and answers
Questions about storing and reheating leftovers
How quickly do I need to get leftovers into the fridge?
Cool leftovers quickly (ideally within 1 to 2 hours), then refrigerate.
Food safety
Cool cooked food at room temperature and get it into the fridge within one to two hours. Eat leftovers within two days, or freeze them. Your fridge should be between 0 and 5°C.
Source: Food Standards Agency, How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely: chilling food (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
How many times can I reheat leftovers?
Reheat until steaming hot throughout, and only reheat once.
Food safety
Reheat leftovers until they are steaming hot all the way through, not just warm, and only reheat them once.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: reheating leftovers (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Does cooked rice need to be treated differently from other leftovers?
Yes. Cool cooked rice within one hour, keep it in the fridge for no more than one day, and reheat until piping hot.
Food safety
Cool cooked rice as quickly as possible, ideally within one hour, and do not leave it in the pan or rice cooker to cool. Keep it in the fridge for no more than one day, reheat it only once, and make sure it is steaming hot all the way through.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Home food fact checker: rice (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
How can I help leftovers cool down faster before refrigerating?
Divide them into shallow containers so the heat escapes quickly, and for meat on the bone, take it off the bone first.
The aim is to get food cool enough for the fridge within the times above rather than leaving a large pot to cool slowly on the side.
Food safety
Cool cooked food at room temperature and get it into the fridge within one to two hours. Eat leftovers within two days, or freeze them. Your fridge should be between 0 and 5°C.
Source: Food Standards Agency, How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely: chilling food (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Do gravy and stock-based sauces need any special treatment when reheating?
Bring gravy and stock-based sauces to the boil when reheating.
Food safety
Reheat leftovers until they are steaming hot all the way through, not just warm, and only reheat them once.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: reheating leftovers (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Which leftovers keep the shortest amount of time in the fridge?
Enter your food above to see its fridge and freezer window, cooked rice and fish generally keep the least time, while soups, stews and cooked vegetables generally keep a little longer.
Guidance
Read the full guide
- How to Store and Reheat Leftovers SafelyCooling food quickly, how long it keeps, reheating until it is steaming hot, and why rice has its own rules.
Safety guidance reviewed against Food Standards Agency sources on 11 September 2026. How we calculate cooking times and safety guidance.