As the Thanksgiving holiday comes to an end, an important decision needs to be made on whether to throw away leftover food. Unconsumed or unfrozen food kept four days after Thanksgiving can accumulate bacteria.

Eve Wolters is the deputy director of the Coconino County Health Department.

“Bacteria really loves the temperatures between 40 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and in that zone, a variety of bacteria can grow whether it’s E. coli, listeria. There are a number of them," she said.

Wolters gives the same advice for food unrefrigerated for two hours. She also suggests reheating leftovers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to warm them completely.