Sweets, codfish, turkey, leftovers at this time of year are a classic, but few know how to properly pack food, so as not to pose health risks, and how to organize the fridge when the season comes to an end. There are common mistakes and a lot of ignorance too.

It's nothing new, food abounds at Christmas dinner - and right after, at New Year's too - and leftovers are an almost inevitable certainty on Portuguese tables. Planning ahead is the biggest tip of all, but we know that by tradition big tables and excess always win. So let's jump to what comes next. "We don't stop for long thinking in terms of food safety. We are all a little relaxed. We have risky practices and there are many myths", says Paula Teixeira, researcher at the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. Paula has dedicated herself to researching food safety in Portuguese homes. And when it comes to Christmas leftovers, you know, "there's always a problem, which is the space in the fridge".