Comments on: Reader’s Question: How long are Leftovers Good for? http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/ Use what you have, get creative and save! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:41:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nancy http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19868 Nancy Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:42:14 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19868 Wow! You made my question a post! I love all the information and ideas you gave, as well as what the other commenters had to offer. I got some great ideas. Thank you!! But I have to be honest, I still need to work on my milk issues! Maybe if they just didn't make that darn sell by date so big and bold! ;-) Wow! You made my question a post! I love all the information and ideas you gave, as well as what the other commenters had to offer. I got some great ideas. Thank you!! But I have to be honest, I still need to work on my milk issues! Maybe if they just didn’t make that darn sell by date so big and bold! ;-)

]]> By: anonymous http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19855 anonymous Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:43:04 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19855 Great post, Jenn! I really don't like 'off' milk at all. I like the fresh taste, so for me it's 1 week after opening the container. But milk freezes and thaws nicely, so now I buy quarts and thaw only what I'll use in a few days. For most leftovers that are deeply cooked, I don't think twice until it is over a week old. For less-cooked items (sushi anyone?), it can be a much shorter period. Also, if you're on medications that decrease stomach acids or suppress your immune system, you need to be even more careful. Great post, Jenn!

I really don’t like ‘off’ milk at all. I like the fresh taste, so for me it’s 1 week after opening the container. But milk freezes and thaws nicely, so now I buy quarts and thaw only what I’ll use in a few days.

For most leftovers that are deeply cooked, I don’t think twice until it is over a week old. For less-cooked items (sushi anyone?), it can be a much shorter period.

Also, if you’re on medications that decrease stomach acids or suppress your immune system, you need to be even more careful.

]]> By: RONI707 http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19843 RONI707 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:58:27 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19843 Thanks for the tips. Coincidentally,I came upon an ULTIMATE SHELF LIFE guide about leftover food. I have not had a chance to look at it all yet. But I'll be going again .Defintly worth a look. It's called StllTasty.It's online,don't have the link Thanks for the tips.
Coincidentally,I came upon an ULTIMATE SHELF LIFE guide about leftover food.
I have not had a chance to look at it all yet. But I’ll be going again .Defintly worth a look.
It’s called StllTasty.It’s online,don’t have the link

]]> By: Heather Solos http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19842 Heather Solos Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:08:31 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19842 Like you, I have two sets of guidelines. One is my official advice that I research, those are the guidelines I post and the ones I use when serving anyone outside of my immediate family. I push those guidelines frequently to avoid waste when it comes to personal use. I'm a healthy adult, everyone in my family has a healthy immune system. That said, I do NOT stretch any of the guidelines when it comes to home preservation aka canning. Botulism is quite different than your run of the mill gastro-intestinal bug. Like you, I have two sets of guidelines. One is my official advice that I research, those are the guidelines I post and the ones I use when serving anyone outside of my immediate family. I push those guidelines frequently to avoid waste when it comes to personal use. I’m a healthy adult, everyone in my family has a healthy immune system.
That said, I do NOT stretch any of the guidelines when it comes to home preservation aka canning. Botulism is quite different than your run of the mill gastro-intestinal bug.

]]> By: SewCalGal http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19827 SewCalGal Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:46:37 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19827 If we couldn't have eaten the left over filet, within a day or two, we'd have frozen it. We also would have used the left over for a stir-fry, which makes a little bit of left over meat go a long way....and makes for a yummy dinner! SewCalGal www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com If we couldn’t have eaten the left over filet, within a day or two, we’d have frozen it. We also would have used the left over for a stir-fry, which makes a little bit of left over meat go a long way….and makes for a yummy dinner!

SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

]]> By: Holly http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19805 Holly Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:42:44 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19805 Old milk can be used for baking or making cheese. Look up recipes on the net using soured milk. I use our 'off' milk for pancakes, biscuits, queen of puddings, cakes and general cooking. I've made some yummy cottage cheese from old milk as well. Read up on old-time recipes, esp war time, as those ladies were experts at getting the most out of food, even the least desirable. Research; trust your sense of smell,taste and sight; use your common sense; and open your mind. Old milk can be used for baking or making cheese. Look up recipes on the net using soured milk. I use our ‘off’ milk for pancakes, biscuits, queen of puddings, cakes and general cooking. I’ve made some yummy cottage cheese from old milk as well. Read up on old-time recipes, esp war time, as those ladies were experts at getting the most out of food, even the least desirable. Research; trust your sense of smell,taste and sight; use your common sense; and open your mind.

]]> By: Julie http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19799 Julie Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:08:05 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19799 These tips are great. I fought so long against making a menu plan, but I finally gave in. This area of my life has become so much easier once I did. I find I have a lot fewer leftovers because I have a plan to deal with them the next day or two. An added benefit: when I do find that container of something in the back of the fridge, I can check my menu plan and find out how old it is. Now I know if I should just hold my nose and dump the container in the garbage or not. These tips are great. I fought so long against making a menu plan, but I finally gave in. This area of my life has become so much easier once I did. I find I have a lot fewer leftovers because I have a plan to deal with them the next day or two. An added benefit: when I do find that container of something in the back of the fridge, I can check my menu plan and find out how old it is. Now I know if I should just hold my nose and dump the container in the garbage or not.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19798 Carrie Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:48:22 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19798 i only like to keep leftovers in the fridge for 3 days max. unless i have a plan for when i will eat the leftovers, i portion out the meal into single serving containers and freeze them so they're like my own homemade lean cuisine freezer meals. i only like to keep leftovers in the fridge for 3 days max. unless i have a plan for when i will eat the leftovers, i portion out the meal into single serving containers and freeze them so they’re like my own homemade lean cuisine freezer meals.

]]> By: Catherine http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19796 Catherine Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:26:04 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19796 I go buy smell/appearance, too. You probably don't want to know that I have turkey from THANKSGIVING in my fridge that is going to make an appearance tonight at dinner (it's been in the WAY BACK of the fridge and is probably a little frozen because of it). Nope, I won't tell you that. I go buy smell/appearance, too. You probably don’t want to know that I have turkey from THANKSGIVING in my fridge that is going to make an appearance tonight at dinner (it’s been in the WAY BACK of the fridge and is probably a little frozen because of it). Nope, I won’t tell you that.

]]> By: TJ http://www.frugalupstate.com/general-frugality/readers-question-how-long-are-leftovers-good-for/comment-page-1/#comment-19795 TJ Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:20:43 +0000 http://www.frugalupstate.com/?p=2546#comment-19795 Milk also lasts longer when a pinch of salt is added upon opening. I am like you and go more by the food and how it appears/smells. I have yet to make any of us sick, because I will throw out something that I feel is past its prime. Milk also lasts longer when a pinch of salt is added upon opening. I am like you and go more by the food and how it appears/smells. I have yet to make any of us sick, because I will throw out something that I feel is past its prime.

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