Determine when to defrost your food in the refrigerator. Most items will usually defrost within up 24 hours; however, large items such as frozen turkeys and chickens may take several days to defrost. Verify that the temperature of your refrigerator is set to 4.4 degrees Celsius. Your food will take longer to defrost if the temperature of your refrigerator is several degrees lower. Place your frozen food on a plate or dish to prevent leaks. Any juice that drips from your defrosted food may contaminate other foods in your refrigerator. Prepare your food shortly after it has been defrosted. Some food must u prepared and eaten immediately to prevent bacteria growth; however, you may freeze the food, as long as it is placed in the freezer within the time frame in which you should have eaten it. "... Prepare your food shortly after it has been defrosted" The underlined word refers to ...

Question

Determine when to defrost your food in the refrigerator. Most items will usually defrost within up 24 hours; however, large items such as frozen turkeys and chickens may take several days to defrost.
Verify that the temperature of your refrigerator is set to 4.4 degrees Celsius. Your food will take longer to defrost if the temperature of your refrigerator is several degrees lower.
Place your frozen food on a plate or dish to prevent leaks. Any juice that drips from your defrosted food may contaminate other foods in your refrigerator.
Prepare your food shortly after it has been defrosted. Some food must u prepared and eaten immediately to prevent bacteria growth; however, you may freeze the food, as long as it is placed in the freezer within the time frame in which you should have eaten it.

"... Prepare your food shortly after it has been defrosted"

The underlined word refers to ...