Store food properly, and date leftovers to protect against foodborne illnesses.

That sandwich that's been sitting on the patio since Saturday afternoon? Yeah, go ahead and toss it.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA— Fourth of July festivities have come and gone, but bits and pieces from the long weekend may still remain. Along with sunburns and family photos, your fridge may still be hosting some cookout leftovers—but is it still safe to eat the dregs of Grandma’s potato salad? That’s a wise question, and it may keep you from becoming one of the 76 million or so Americans affected by foodborne illness every year. Read on to find out how to store your summer treats correctly, and when it’s time give them the heave-ho. (Get rid of anything that doesn’t pass the smell test, of course—but don’t rely on that as a way of determining what’s edible.)

Salads Made with Mayonnaise
Though that macaroni or potato salad tasted great on Saturday, it won’t be so good next weekend. According to the Partnership for Food Safety, store-bought or homemade egg, chicken, ham, tuna, or macaroni salads will only last from three to five days when refrigerated properly. As long as you know they were kept cool—which means 40 degrees or less, on ice, in a fridge, or in a cooler—you can keep them for that long. Otherwise, toss. Next time, pack away your leftovers in tightly sealed containers and clearly mark them with the date created.

Meat and Fish
If you were a little overzealous with stocking up on food to grill, now is the time to get eating or get freezing. Raw meat and fish have a fridge life of one to two weeks. Poultry lasts in the fridge for just as long. If you can’t cook it this week, throw the meat in the freezer for one to two months, or freeze the fish for three to six months. Raw chicken or turkey will freeze well for up to a year. Cooked meat in casseroles, as well as cooked steaks, chops, or roasts, don’t stretch as far fridge-wise (three to five days), however, if frozen, can last for four to 12 months. Cooked poultry is safe frozen for up to six months. In the future, split your grilled goodies into several shallow containers for storage. This allows the temperature to drop faster, ensuring your grilled goodies safe storage.

Cheese
Pack cheese trays up for the fridge, as long as you have plans to enjoy them soon. Soft cheeses can last in the fridge for about a week, according to Prevention magazine. Hard cheeses have a much better shelf life, staying good for six months. To make it last, wrap the cheese well. According to Prevention, cheeses should be wrapped in plastic wrap or foil and refrigerated to maintain their freshness.

Other Food
To make sure your leftovers stay edible as long as possible, check the temp of your fridge. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, your refrigerator should be between 40 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid packing your fridge too tightly, as food needs circulating cool air to keep it at a temperature that inhibits the growth of bacteria. As a rule of thumb, get all refrigerated food back into the fridge before two hours of room temp time, or after an hour if sitting out when it’s above 90 degrees out.

Fruit Drinks
If your guests weren’t as thirsty as you thought, save your holiday drinks for later. Unopened fruit juices and party punches are safe from harmful bacteria in the fridge for three weeks, or seven to 10 days if they’ve been opened. If you’re left with more than you can quaff in that time, freeze any excess juice for eight to12 months. Freeze your favorites in ice cube trays to add flavor to drinks or use when you’re making smoothies.