Leftover food should be refrigerated or frozen within two hours of serving. Cool large quantities of leftover food faster by dividing it into smaller containers, stirring, and adding to an ice bath. Label leftovers with the name of the food and the current date.
When storing leftover foods in a refrigerator, wrap or place them in a covered container and place the container on the top or second-from-the-top shelf. Ensure that the leftover food is placed above all raw food (for example, meat, poultry, and seafood) that will need to be cooked before eating.
Use refrigerated leftover food within 3-4 days, or within 3 to 4 months if they were frozen. When you are ready to use leftover food, reheat to a minimum of 165 F, the safe temperature needed to kill harmful bacteria that may be present.
Learn more about handling leftovers safely from USDA Food Safety Inspection Service.