If you are preparing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year, you will probably have a lot of leftovers. The US Department of Agriculture says there is a time limit on how long you can safely store leftover food.

Make sure to refrigerate dense foods like sliced turkey, cooked sweet potatoes or gravy in shallow containers to help them cool down fast. Schaffner’s recent research showed that foods cooled in containers at a depth of no more than 2 inches posed little risk of growing dangerous germs.

For many, the start of the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving — a time for reflecting on what we are thankful for and gathering with friends and families for a