Rule of thumb for leftovers?

What's your rule of thumb for tossing out leftovers? My DH basically NEVER eats leftovers so he has no clue

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

If I make a double batch of pasta or pot pie or casserole or something like that.. I will freeze whatever we didn't serve and as long as we eat that within a month or so we are good.

For leftovers that I don't freeze.. I like to be done with them within 3 days - 4 days TOPS. After that I start to worry that it will pick up a fridge taste.. or worse yet .. some funky bacteria or mold. :)

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

3 days! And if it day 3, I make sure to heat them up super-hot.
1 day for fish.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

If we don't eat them the next day, we never will, so I usually just toss them.

I will eat left over rice or pasta for 3 days but that is my absolute cutoff.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

If I don't freeze something it's no more than 2-3 days.

dh MIGHT eat it after that depending on what it is, but I am a nut about leftovers. it makes me gag.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

I can and will eat leftovers a week later.

Depends on the meal, but I eat leftovers like it's my job.

I HATE wasting food.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

I just can't eat leftovers and neither can DH. I usually make enough (that is if I even cook) for the night and that is it. Whatever is left goes to my dogs.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Okay so I'm not totally crazy then!

I throw them away after 3 days DEFINITELY. Usually if nobody has eaten them for lunch the next day then I know they aren't getting eaten.

I try to save leftovers for Loey for his lunch the next day and then typically throw the rest out.

When I do small batch cooking just for Logan (like meatballs or breaded chicken breast), I take out 1-2 servings and freeze the rest. Or if I bake a loaf of bread, I immediately freeze 1/2. DH thinks I'm crazy!

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

i've gone 5-6 days no problem
after that then I toss

Message edited 10/11/2011 12:38:53 PM.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Three days tops.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Mustbe inthe minority..two days from when its cooked is usually my limit. We dont have much left overs, but I could never eat something 5 days after it was made.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

2 days in fridge, max.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Depends on what it is. I clean out left overs once a week, or whenever I do a large shopping load.

I'll eat left over pasta up to a week. chicken, usually 3 days. Maybe 5 depending on how it's cooked and stored.

I don't eat fish leftovers.

I tend to store them for a week, and throw them out. I can't bring myself to throw it out right away. DH doesnt eat left overs. I sometimes take them to work, but i forget, and am not always in the mood for a real lunch.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

Leftovers have been eaten 5-6 days after it was made in my house. We don't like to waste food and are particular about how it is stored and re-heated. I throw it out on the 6th day if it is still in the fridge. DH likes my leftovers though, so they are usually gone before 3 days. And if I feel like we can't eat the leftovers within the week, I will freeze it. Freezing usually works best.

Re: Rule of thumb for leftovers?

I wish we both liked leftovers because it would mean a lot less waste but both of us generally don't have them unless it's pizza. I throw out everything after 2 days unless I freeze something.