How long do you keep leftovers?

[GREENBACK]

I just ate a pork chop meal that was made approximately 7 days ago. According to my significant other I'll will be gravely ill if not dead very soon. Hopefully this will not be my last post and testament We often discuss the length of time that leftovers should be kept. She is of the belief that about one week is the max time. I think that if if looks good and smells good, time is not an issue.

I was raised in a family that came from very humble beginnings and didn't waste anything. She wasn't. I also was very poor(college years) and never, ever threw anything away that could be used(eaten!). I literally remember the feeling of not being sure where your next meal might come from.

Neither of us have children at home so the leftover issue comes up frequently. We both enjoy cooking so we tend to have a lot of leftovers. I'm standing by my belief that you shouldn't throw "good" food away.

So how long do you feel leftovers should be kept?

[zakity]

I have a four day/five day rule. It is either eaten or frozen on day four. Sometimes, my life sucks and it is day five before I can toss it in the freezer.

[kork13]

I have this problem ALOT--I also love to cook, but can't cook well in small portions. So I try to use most things within no more than 1 week. I take it for lunches, and take it out again for quickie dinners when I'm too lazy to actually cook that night. If I know it's within 1 week, and it still looks/smells just fine, I have no problems with it. Some things (like the soups/stews I frequently make), I don't mind letting them stay beyond a week... But if I somehow let something stay for more than ~2 weeks, in most cases, it'll quickly find itself in the trash. Stuff grows on cooked foods left in the fridge too long, whether you can see it or not.

[tulsa_sr5]

Worked in food service all thru college, 3 days total at fridge temps was the rule there. I always assumed that was on the very cautious side, so 4-6 days seems ok with me, but if I'm past 3 days I'll nuke it a little extra.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by tulsa_sr5

Worked in food service all thru college, 3 days total at fridge temps was the rule there. I always assumed that was on the very cautious side, so 4-6 days seems ok with me, but if I'm past 3 days I'll nuke it a little extra.

I remember my grandmother keeping a pot of beans or stew/chili sitting on the stove for several days. When dinner time came around she would just heat it up again. The health dept. would have a seizure if they knew this was being fed to kids nowadays. No one got sick that I recall so maybe granny knew best.

She also gave us whiskey with lemon and honey for colds but that's another story.

[MonkeyMama]

Probably 10 days.

For the most part we eat our leftovers within a week, easily. But we debate it every once in a while when we forget something for a few days or go out of town. Generally if it smells okay I will eat it. My dh freaks out a bit more. I've never had a problem. (knock on wood!) But yes, we definitely scrutinize it a bit extra after a week, and AFTER 10 days we just toss it, pretty much no matter what it is.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I think that if if looks good and smells good, time is not an issue.

Originally Posted by kork13

Stuff grows on cooked foods left in the fridge too long, whether you can see it or not.

kork13 is correct. By the time the food looks or smells bad, the volume of bacteria or mold is tremendous, but there can be more than enough present to sicken you before it reaches that point.

I once read that probably 85% of what we doctors diagnose as a stomach virus is actually a mild case of food poisoning. It's just that the symptoms aren't severe and our bodies take care of it within a day or two.

I think a week is the outer limit. If you have stuff leftover, just freeze it and then it isn't a problem.

[whitestripe]

well, usually with leftovers for us, if it has meat in it, i will use it either the next day, or the day after that. (so 2-3 days). If it doesnt have meat, it will be 3-4 days. if it has rice in it, i will only eat it the day after and only if it has been put in the fridge straight after cooking. (i have and so has my dad, had terrible food poisoning that has been from rice as it breeds bacteria a lot quicker because of the water content).

i guess we could be a little more relaxed, but other than my rice experience, about two years ago, i have not had a tummy bug. in fact the only times i have thrown up since then have been alcohol related... which i'm not too proud of! so i think my system works pretty alright!

[momof1in150]

I usually pack 2-3 days worth of lunches and freeze the rest. On busy days/nights I use the frozen leftovers for dinner. Anything beyond that it too risky for us.

[Caoineag]

Up to a week depending on the type of food. Learned the hard way that 3 days is max for custard. I remember reading somewhere that broths if cooked every 7 days can last indefinitely but I have never tried it. I err on the side of caution but I did know someone who would eat things 2 weeks out with no issues. I assume he had built up a tolerance for food poisoning.

[GREENBACK]

I wonder if you eat old leftovers on a regular basis does your body develop some immunity to whatever bacteria might develop. I have eaten things as old as two weeks with no problem other than maybe a less than fresh taste.

I'm not advocating that anyone do this btw. I guess the temp. of your fridge and the type of food play a big role as well.

[PrincessPerky]

eww...

I am of the 2 to 3 day variety, and all leftovers are heated quite well, but yes I imagine folk who regularly eat old stuff develop an immunity to it.

If I have a lot of food, I either freeze it re purpose it (to a new meal) or give it away.

I never have regular food to give away, but I like to bake so in spurts I have a lot of that to share.

I would love to trade decent food for my baked goods (not a good cook myself)

[simpleyme]

if you are not going to use it within a couple days just throw it in some gladware or a platic bag and freeze it, no waste ,no sickness ;-)

[My English Castle]

I make myself eat the 3-day old things. Or if my husband's hungry--I feed it to him. He grew up poor and will eat anything. Really.

[GREENBACK]

2 or 3 days seems to be a typical response here. I've hardly ever given a couple of days a second thought. Maybe my SO is right and I am headed to an early grave or am I developing a super immunity...lol.

[whitestripe]

i think it's different for everyone. i am sure that there is probably nothing wrong with eating food after 3 days (for me) or after a week, or 10 days... but personally i just can't make myself do it!

also, with microwaves, if you are 'nuking' something thats old, make sure it is heated right through. microwaves have a tendancy to leave cold spots in food, which is where bacteria and germs will not be killed. also, microwaves do not kill the germs, the heat kills the germs. so you can use an oven or the stove as well.

[GREENBACK]

I ate a cheeseburger tonight that was cooked 12 days ago. I know it may sound discusting to some but it looked, smelled and tasted as good as the day it was made. Is it just me or do a lot of people discard good food?

Maybe this is a carryover from my leaner years but it's so hard for me to put food, that I consider to be perfectly edible, in the trash. I honestly think of really poor and destitute people in other countries that would kill for what I might throw away on a whim because it's a few days old.

[tulsa_sr5]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I ate a cheeseburger tonight that was cooked 12 days ago. I know it may sound discusting to some but it looked, smelled and tasted as good as the day it was made. Is it just me or do a lot of people discard good food?

Maybe this is a carryover from my leaner years but it's so hard for me to put food, that I consider to be perfectly edible, in the trash. I honestly think of really poor and destitute people in other countries that would kill for what I might throw away on a whim because it's a few days old.

Totally agree, and I try really hard to eat things before they go bad. I hate throwing out food that was ok a few days ago, even if it just $1 bag of carrots or something. For me 3 days is a very safe guidline, but I've certainly eaten older food. Unfortunately the only way short of having a lab to test food is to eat it and see if you get sick. Guessing that pork chop didn't do you in since it's been a couple days and you are still posting

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by tulsa_sr5

Guessing that pork chop didn't do you in since it's been a couple days and you are still posting

Unless I'm a spirit and haven't realized it yet

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I ate a cheeseburger tonight that was cooked 12 days ago. I know it may sound discusting to some but it looked, smelled and tasted as good as the day it was made. Is it just me or do a lot of people discard good food?

Maybe this is a carryover from my leaner years but it's so hard for me to put food, that I consider to be perfectly edible, in the trash. I honestly think of really poor and destitute people in other countries that would kill for what I might throw away on a whim because it's a few days old.

it seems real obvious to me that you are very disorganized and need some meal planning

If you look in my fridge right now you will see almost no leftovers,I use my leftovers daily or i plan meals around them ,a left over cheeseburger would have been eaten by my DH the next day ,the pork chop would have been part of the next meal or chopped up and added to rice
I use everything up because like you I paid for it and someone is going to eat it we throw almost nothing out
on occasion i screw up and I will toss food out that goes bad or was not to great the first time

last night I made spanish rice it included the left over rice that I made Monday (that used to make burritos) the burrito meal included the small amount of left over chili from the previous meal

I have a clean fridge and I look in it carefully to make sure everything is good and nothing is lost,something needs used and I just do not want to use it now I put it in the freezer , I usually decide this during cleanup and just straight to the freezer with it .

I like a clean in use type fridge I do my hoarding in the pantry with shelf stable items