Thanksgiving Leftovers: Experts Say Some Foods May Not Be Safe To Reheat

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Most people have plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers to enjoy, but experts say be careful. Not all your favorite dishes may be safe to reheat.

Clinical Dietitian Lindsey Malone of the Cleveland Clinic says don't save rice. When it cools at room temperature, bacteria can grow rapidly.

"That bacteria is resistant to heat so even if you are heating to the normal temperature, it doesn't matter that bacteria is still going to be there," she said.

Another staple to toss is potatoes cooked in aluminum foil.

"Letting it cool into that temperature danger zone and also keeping the foil on it, you have created this bacteria breeding ground," Malone said. "You may not heat it sufficiently to kill the bacteria."

Foods with a high moisture content like stuffing should also be thrown away.

When it comes to poultry, Malone says reheat it to the proper internal temperature to avoid bacteria and don't store the whole bird.

"Again, setting up the situation for bacterial growth," she said. "Cut it up in smaller portions, cool it quickly, store it within two hours ."

The very young, old and those with compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to food borne illnesses, so it's best to avoid having a refrigerator full of left overs, CBS News' Marlie Hall reported.

"For foods that you do plan on saving, make sure you get that food into shallow containers and into the refrigerator within two hours," Malone said.

And if you are going to reheat the leftovers,  use the oven, not the microwave. It's not the quickest, but it cooks more evenly.

Malone says it's best to toss any leftovers after three to four days.