Spring is the time for flowers, warmer weather, and spring cleaning! If you spring clean, do you clean out your refrigerator and freezer? If not, add it to the list – every few months, it is a good idea to go through the items in your fridge and discard anything that is expired. It is also important to check the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer; proper food storage and temperature will help decrease the risk of foodborne illnesses.Your refrigerator should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, and the freezer should be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Use a thermometer to check the temperature and adjust the controls as needed. If something spills, be sure to clean it up right away to avoid cross-contamination with other refrigerated foods.When freezing food, be sure to wrap it tightly with two layers of freezer or shrink wrap to create an air-tight seal. This will prevent freezer burn – if ice crystals appear on frozen food, it is generally safe to eat as long as the freezer was kept at the proper temperature. However, the quality of the food probably isn’t as good as before it was frozen.Stored properly, most leftovers can be kept for 3-5 days. When it comes to questionable leftovers or something you’re just not sure about, the Food and Drug Administration recommends the “when in doubt, throw it out” approach. Even if there is just a small spot of mold or a slightly strange smell, more bacteria are probably hidden underneath the surface of the food. Play it safe and get rid of it – it is not worth the risk of getting food poisoning.Happy Spring!