How long do you keep leftovers?

[GREENBACK]

I fully realize it was throughly reheated before being served. I'm sure a fair amount of bacteria developed while this food sat on the stove and I'm just as sure the cooking process killed most or all of it. I don't recall anyone getting sick from any of it.

This was a time and place where wasting any food was completely unacceptable and it was a common practice in the community.

[Inkstain82]

In my house, I don't think a limit of more than two days would ever be tested. Leftovers never last that long.

[PinkLantern893]

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.

Agreed. I try and stick to four-five days or I just toss it. Anything with heavy dairy though...I get pretty worried even after two days.

[Saving_spree]

I keep it for a max of 3 days... I try not to eat leftovers except in un-avoidable situations....

[cjscully]

I realize I'm "reviving" an old thread here but the title intrigued me and the posts in the thread almost forced me to write this.

First I'll answer the original question posed. I keep leftovers until they go bad. I trust my eyes and my nose to tell me when that is. A set number of days is not part of the equation at all. If something looks bad or smells bad (or both) it gets tossed. Otherwise I don't have any problem eating it.

I do all the cooking in my house and I cook enough to ensure I have leftovers. Leftovers can save you money.

[scfr]

Unless it has lots of a preservative like vinegar, 2-3 days max. We don't make more than enough for 2 meals, and I'd eat the same thing at every meal rather than keep it around too long.

[justinblake]

It always depends what it is. When it is pasta, I always have a four-hour rule. After four hours, pasta shouldn't be eaten. Unless, of course, if you refrigerate it before that time expires. I am a bit paranoid because we have experienced some sort of food poisoning in the family due to pasta gone bad.

I also think that it depends on how hot or cold it is where you are. I have lived in the tropics, and food there -- like cooked meat -- always don't last long because of the heat.

[AmberLeigh]

Here's an alternative to your leftovers...

Find another couple (work/social circle) to pair up with.
So when you cook you go ahead and each of you package up leftovers and swap.
Most things taste as good or better the next day, and saves you a day of cooking, and one's leftovers is another person's meal.

Just an idea... no wasting.

[mike95910]

lol i like the comment amber. Um how about cutting your ingredient amounts in half then there will be no leftovers

[Frugal]

I agree. I grew up with family and now my spouse that throw away food after 2-4 days. Usually, after no more than three. People don't realize that it depends upon the food. Meat can lose its color and flavor both before and after cooking if it is too old, or sits out too long. With meat, you of course have to worry more about bacteria.

I discovered the other day I had been using liquid dairy creamer for coffee that expired just over a month ago, and it never once made me sick or feel bad. It depends upon the item, and how many preservatives are in it.