Revealed: The right temperature to set your fridge this Christmas to avoid food waste

It is one of the best about Christmas holiday.

But the government’s food watchdog says your leftover Christmas plate could be putting you and your family at risk of food poisoning.

By storing leftovers at the wrong temperature, many people are allowing harmful bacteria to enter their Christmas feast which can be harmful to their health.

So, what’s the right temperature to set your fridge this Christmas?

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), your fridge should be set at 5°C (41°F) or lower to store food safely.

The agency warns that you should check the temperature of your refrigerator once a week using a thermometer.

If your fridge is warmer than you expect, the food can go stale quickly and become unsafe to eat before you have a chance to enjoy it.

Robin May, Chief Scientific Adviser at the FSA: ‘Don’t be a turkey – our new data shows us that people are taking unnecessary and avoidable risks in the way they cook, cook and store food.’

According to research by the FSA, many Britons are putting themselves at risk of food poisoning on holiday.

This is especially true when it comes to leftovers since any time they sit out of the fridge allows bacteria to grow.

The FSA says almost half of Britons are playing ‘buffet roulette’ by leaving food in the fridge and eating it hours later.

According to FSA guidelines, food should be kept in the fridge for four hours at a time.

So, if you’re planning on coming back for seconds, make sure you don’t leave too late before you grab some cool food.

However, when it comes to freezing your food, it’s important to make sure you’re doing it right.

The FSA found that 27 per cent of people end up leaving food that needs to be frozen in a cold place like a balcony or garage because they don’t have enough space in the fridge.

Mr May says: ‘If you’re cooking for a crowd, there’s a lot to think about and you may not have a lot of space in the fridge.’

But even though things may be full, it’s important to keep everything you want to eat for later.

Experts have already said that the remains should be placed on top in your fridge, leaving a cool place on the bottom to get fresh food.

A raw turkey, on the other hand, should be stored as low as possible to prevent water or contaminants from entering your food.

Best of all, the FSA only says to refrigerate for two days before eating.

After that, the accumulation of germs can make the food dangerous.

But if you don’t have room in the fridge, or in your stomach, the FSA says you can freeze leftovers to eat later.

However, your freezer should be at least -18°C (-0.4°F) to prevent the growth of germs.

Likewise, the FSA found that you may be putting yourself at risk of food poisoning even before the food is cooked.

Of those who responded, 46 percent said they do not check expiration dates when preparing food.

Another two-fifths of these people said they sometimes cook meat such as pork in blankets or turkey that has already passed.

Although the ‘Best Before’ date on food packaging refers to the quality, the use by date is related to food safety so it is important not to eat food beyond this date.

If you want to extend the life of your food, you can freeze the food any time before it is used and eat it at another time.

Mr May says: ‘While we are talking about this lightly, there is a strong message that comes out of the information.

‘No one likes to get sick on holiday, especially when friends and family get together, including people who are at risk of food poisoning, such as elderly or pregnant relatives.’