On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:09:20 -0400, (Tony O) wrote:

>2 to 3 days why take a chance of getting sick

Why throw out good food?

Rule of thumb in our house is one week. It has never been a problem.

On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:48:07 -0800, (Judy Haffner)
wrote:



>So how long does anyone here keep leftovers around and eat on them,
>including cooked turkey, chicken, ham, etc.?
>
>How about salads, such as potato salad, or a pasta salad? Mom use to say
>potato salad should be dumped out after the 3rd day, so I've always done
>that.
>
>Judy

For the past 50 or so years, we've never had a problem with a one week
limit. Of course, they should be properly wrapped or in a sealed
container.

My guess is that some items can last even longer, but with the 1 week
I know we are safe. Some thing go right into the freezer if we know
it will be a long time.

Exceptions are cured meats. Those have been kept a couple of weeks
with no problems.

Chemo wrote:
> On Apr 23, 8:48 am, (Judy Haffner) wrote:
>> I know some people don't care to eat "leftovers" from a meal, but
>> with it just being hubby and I now, usually we always have some to
>> store in the refrigerator, but I'm never quite sure just how long
>> someone should eat on them.
>>
>> I can remember my grandmother saying she was making spaghetti, or a
>> stew that would last them all week, but mostly I will toss out
>> anything that is left after a couple of days has passed. We only
>> have the freezer unit in the top of our 14 cu. ft. refrigerator, so
>> generally don't freeze leftovers.
>>
>> I particularly like soups & stews, and spaghetti sauce reheated the
>> next day, and some casseroles, as the flavor is better after it's
>> had time to blend.
>>
>> So how long does anyone here keep leftovers around and eat on them,
>> including cooked turkey, chicken, ham, etc.?
>>
>> How about salads, such as potato salad, or a pasta salad? Mom use to
>> say potato salad should be dumped out after the 3rd day, so I've
>> always done that.
>>
>> Judy
>
> How old are you...12?

That's not very nice. Lots of people are clueless when it comes to food
safety and some reside here! Some people leave pots of soup or chili out at
room temp. I have heard of this and I have seen such posts on the Internet
(thankfully not here).

Then there is pizza. They say to refrigerate the leftovers and I've even
seen some dieticians say that you should never eat it cold. Only heated.
And yet? Used to be that pizza bread was a common thing around here. Could
get it at quite a few grocery stores and it was never refrigerated. And the
square pizza pieces that are common in PA are sold at room temp.

But... I don't think it really matters what anyone here says that they do.
Just because they do it doesn't mean it is the right thing to do!

"Judy Haffner" > wrote in message
...
>
> Bob wrote:
>
>>I usually eat leftovers for several days; in
>> fact I make soup about 3 quarts at a
>> time so I will have enough for a week
>> (not eating it every day; would need 5 or
>> 6 quarts for that) If I have more left over
>> than I think I'll be able to eat, the excess
>> goes in the freezer in single large
>> portions to take to work for lunches.
>
> I'm sure homemade soups and stews can be kept in the refrigerator for
> several days, after cooking, if is well covered, and just take out
> enough each time to reheat and eat, unless maybe has a milk base, such
> as potato soup.
>
>>I had lasagna for lunch yesterday; frozen
>> about a month ago.
>
> Well, that I can see, with it being in the freezer, as no danger of that
> having bacteria growing on it.
>
>>I never throw food out just because "it's
>> been in there 3 days." I might throw it
>> out or give it to the dog because I don't
>> like it or I'm tired of it or it smells off.
>
> If food is put right into the refrigerator, after a meal, then I'm sure
> it's safe to eat it for several days, but haven't convinced hubby of
> that. We have the best fed wild birds around...they turn their beaks up
> at stale bread anymore! I don't feed our toy dog much in the line of
> "people food", other than boiled/roasted chicken, veggies, cheese, and
> hard boiled egg.
>
> Judy
>

Judy Haffner wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>
>> I usually eat leftovers for several days; in
>> fact I make soup about 3 quarts at a
>> time so I will have enough for a week
>> (not eating it every day; would need 5 or
>> 6 quarts for that) If I have more left over
>> than I think I'll be able to eat, the excess
>> goes in the freezer in single large
>> portions to take to work for lunches.
>
> I'm sure homemade soups and stews can be kept in the refrigerator for
> several days, after cooking, if is well covered, and just take out
> enough each time to reheat and eat, unless maybe has a milk base, such
> as potato soup.
>
>> I had lasagna for lunch yesterday; frozen
>> about a month ago.
>
> Well, that I can see, with it being in the freezer, as no danger of
> that having bacteria growing on it.
>
>> I never throw food out just because "it's
>> been in there 3 days." I might throw it
>> out or give it to the dog because I don't
>> like it or I'm tired of it or it smells off.
>
> If food is put right into the refrigerator, after a meal, then I'm
> sure it's safe to eat it for several days, but haven't convinced
> hubby of that. We have the best fed wild birds around...they turn
> their beaks up at stale bread anymore! I don't feed our toy dog much
> in the line of "people food", other than boiled/roasted chicken,
> veggies, cheese, and hard boiled egg.

My grandpa would never eat a leftover. He was most vocal about it. His
food had to be prepared fresh, daily.

Polly Esther wrote:
> "Pico Rico" <> of course I was assuming the food was properly handled
> and promptly
>> refrigerated. Otherwise, what is the point of this question?
> Good point, Pico, and I was hoping someone would mention it. Proper
> handling is a big deal and promptly refrigerating is right along with
> it. My Mom used to have lunch ready by 11 and it might set out until
> maybe 2. So far as I know, she never killed anybody. I look forward
> to having a head start on another day's meal but I am quick to chill
> and refrigerate or freeze leftovers. Polly

I know a lot of people who do this. I have also seen what appears to be
this on TV. For instance an episode of the Duggars where it was taking the
one person what appeared to be many hours to prepare a meal. Not all of the
food was cooked but they carved a baby carriage out of a pumpkin and filled
it with fruit. That was sitting at room temp. in the bedroom.

I just read a book about the Great Depression. The young man went off to
college and his mom gave him bologana sandwiches enough to last him 2.5 days
until he got there and his meal plan would kick in. He was traveling by
train. Not likely they put that food in the fridge for him!

And when I was in school, we took whatever kind of sandwich in our metal
lunchbox or brown paper sack and ate it at room temp. How long was that
sitting out for? Maybe 4 hours? Granted some cookbooks recommended making
the sandwiches in advance and freezing them thereby buying you more time at
a safe temp. But I don't know anyone who actually did this.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...

> But... I don't think it really matters what anyone here says that they
> do. Just because they do it doesn't mean it is the right thing to do!

I use my own common sense and never rely on what someone else says when it
comes to opinions about food.

Cheri

"Cheri" > wrote in message
...
> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Our in-house term for a leftover that's well past its prime is "biology
>> experiment," something that happens if a leftover gets forgotten about in
>> the back of the 'frig, which does happen from time to time.
>
> It used to be a joke among the relatives because my mom saved everything,
> sometimes getting pushed to the back and unidentifiable after awhile. When
> they would be over and helping to clean up, they used to ask her if she'd
> like to throw this away now, or wait a few weeks until it's gone bad in
> the fridge. :-) My mom was a wonderful housekeeper, and a great cook, but
> she just didn't throw little dabs away and they got lost in the fridge.
>
> Cheri

"Cheri" > wrote in message
...
> "Steve Freides" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Our in-house term for a leftover that's well past its prime is "biology
>> experiment," something that happens if a leftover gets forgotten about in
>> the back of the 'frig, which does happen from time to time.
>
> It used to be a joke among the relatives because my mom saved everything,
> sometimes getting pushed to the back and unidentifiable after awhile. When
> they would be over and helping to clean up, they used to ask her if she'd
> like to throw this away now, or wait a few weeks until it's gone bad in
> the fridge. :-) My mom was a wonderful housekeeper, and a great cook, but
> she just didn't throw little dabs away and they got lost in the fridge.
>
> Cheri

My mom had a fit of kittens when my uncle and aunt were visiting. She had
put out some fruit and there was one bite of pineapple left. One bite!
Nobody wanted it so my uncle carefully wrapped it up and put it in the
fridge. When I came in, she gave it to me and had me dispose of it. They
didn't have a garbage disposal in those days or she would have put it down
there. We just don't save little dabs of stuff like that. I might do it if
it is a vegetable and I plan to make vegetable soup or a casserole that I
could add it to but generally that isn't the case. Also in this house we
rarely have such leftovers. I try to cook enough just for that meal or for
planned leftovers. Now when my husband is home, all bets are off. I can't
seem to make enough food for him. But if it's a cooked vegetable he likely
won't eat a leftover unless it is cauliflower, asparagus or broccoli. He
will eat those things and Angela and I won't. So those are left for him. I
won't put those foods in what we eat.

Chemo wrote:
> On Apr 23, 2:39 pm, "Julie Bove" > wrote:
>> "George M. Middius" > wrote in
>> messagenews:alrdn810frn7117aok7rcjkiobhmht1hmv@4ax .com...
>>
>>> dsi1 wrote:
>>
>>>> The low pH of mayo retards the growth of microorganisms
>>
>>> That claim conflicts with common knowledge. Mayo is well-known to
>>> be a fertile
>>> breeding ground for some nasty bacteria.
>>
>> That's a myth. It is actually the vegetables in it that go bad.
>
> What veggies?

Probably most any.

Dave Smith wrote:
> On 23/04/2013 5:15 PM, barbie gee wrote:
>
>>
>> "Each year, Americans waste 33 million tons of food. "
>>
>> I can't tell if people are uninformed, misinformed, lazy or just out
>> and out stupid. It's probably more like no one understands any more
>> what it takes to get that food on our tables, since it's so "cheap".
>
>
> Let's do the math..
> There are 313 million people in the US. Let's boost that 330 million
> to make the math easier. If there is 33 million tons of food per year
> that translates to 1/10th of a ton per person, 200 pounds per year,
> almost one pound of food per person per day wasted. How much food do
> people eat in a day... 1-2 pounds???
>
> Based on my experience. I find that hard to believe. I don't count
> inedible parts of food as waste. Orange and banana peels are not
> waster, Bones are not waste. I often make too much porridge and
> ended up throwing out 1/4 of it... a spoonful of grain. The figure
> you claim is close to 50% of our consumption. Sorry.... no
> credibility there.

I think that's hard to believe too. Maybe they are counting what
restaurants and grocery stores throw away? So far this week I have a little
dab of bagged salad and one red bell pepper that went bad. I bought one too
many peppers when I made the meatloaf and nobody ate it. It also was past
the prime of what I would have purchased for eating raw. Sadly, Winco
didn't have overly fresh peppers when I bought them. And I had to throw out
the ones I had put in the freezer when it for whatever reason shut off. Now
that I have the freezer thermometer, I will be alerted if that happens
again. I also found two weird Amy's frozen tamales that expired in June of
2012. Not only do I not remember buying them but I did clean that freezer
(the one in the house) out not long ago. So I can only surmise that they
were old when I bought them. But I just don't remember buying them. Angela
and my husband hate tamales and they don't look like something I ever would
have bought to begin with. So I can't explain that at all. I do like
tamales but only ones with a certain filling and these had a vegetable
filling and a side of black beans. So didn't look appealing to me.

barbie gee wrote:
> On Tue, 23 Apr 2013, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> On 23/04/2013 5:15 PM, barbie gee wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "Each year, Americans waste 33 million tons of food. "
>>>
>>> I can't tell if people are uninformed, misinformed, lazy or just
>>> out and out stupid. It's probably more like no one understands any
>>> more what it takes to get that food on our tables, since it's so
>>> "cheap".
>>
>>
>> Let's do the math..
>> There are 313 million people in the US. Let's boost that 330 million
>> to make the math easier. If there is 33 million tons of food per
>> year that translates to 1/10th of a ton per person, 200 pounds per
>> year, almost one pound of food per person per day wasted. How much
>> food do people eat in a day... 1-2 pounds???
>>
>> Based on my experience. I find that hard to believe. I don't count
>> inedible parts of food as waste. Orange and banana peels are not
>> waster, Bones are not waste. I often make too much porridge and
>> ended up throwing out 1/4 of it... a spoonful of grain. The figure
>> you claim is close to 50% of our consumption. Sorry.... no
>> credibility there.
>
> If you took the time to Google, you'd see that there is food that
> never even makes it off the store shelves, and is wasted.
>
> One study indicates we didn't waste as much in the past:
>
> "Particularly worrisome, the organization said, was evidence that
> there has been a 50 percent jump in U.S. food waste since the 1970s.
> Unsold fruits and vegetables in grocery stores account for a big part
> of the wasted food."
>
> Then there's the food this thread is about, the "leftovers", whether
> from restaurant meals or at home, that ends up in the trash.

I do waste restaurant food. If I go to a buffet (which I try not to) I take
only what I will eat. If it is something I am unfamiliar with, I will take
just a taste. Then if I like it, I will go back. Once in a while I will
take something that I thought was good only to find out that it isn't. But
I have seen plenty of people, especially kids whose parents aren't watching
them, just take piled high plate after plate and wasting a lot of it!

But in a regular restaurant quite often the portion is too large for me or
it comes with vegetables or fruit that I can't or won't eat. So unless
someone is dining with me that will eat that stuff, it gets wasted. I also
don't eat rolls or bread. I will ask them not to bring it but sometimes
they do anyway. I don't like taking restaurant food home and I do try to
order the smallest portion but even that is usually too much for me. So
what is left on my plate would not be enough for another meal. But I do
often leave a few bites.

And sometimes I just want a few bites of something. When my daughter and I
go to Target, we often get a popcorn. The bags are small but even though we
are splitting it, we both watch our carbs and we don't always eat the entire
bag. Sometimes she will take it home and eat it later. She doesn't mind
stale popcorn but I only like freshly popped.

Kalmia wrote:

>Oh, come ON.

>Just don't make so much - surely you
> can gauge portions and if you've made
> more than you wish to face in the next
> day or two, FREEZE it.

>When in doubt, throw it out.

So you're saying, that when you make soup (or stew) for instance, or
spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, or cook a roast, turkey, chicken, ham, etc.,
you only make enough for two, or however members are in your immediate
family, and you have no leftovers? I find that quite hard to believe,
IMO. I cooked for 6 people for over 20 years, and sometimes our
children's friends, as usually was always extras around the table come
meal time. Suddenly it was just hubby and myself, and we don't eat like
"hogs going to war", so is most always something left over, to put in
the refrigerator. We only have a freezer unit in our refrigerator, so
rarely freeze leftovers.

Even when we go out to eat, we more often than not bring a to-go
container of food home, that we didn't quite eat, so I can't understand
someone never having leftovers to use up. I like most things reheated,
but hubby is more particular, so some food "takes up residence" in the
refrigerator for awhile, and I don't care to risk getting sick from it,
so I think it pays to be careful how long something is stored before
using.

Judy

In article >,
says...
>
> On 23/04/2013 5:15 PM, barbie gee wrote:
>
> >
> > "Each year, Americans waste 33 million tons of food. "
> >
> > I can't tell if people are uninformed, misinformed, lazy or just out and
> > out stupid. It's probably more like no one understands any more what it
> > takes to get that food on our tables, since it's so "cheap".
>
>
> Let's do the math..
> There are 313 million people in the US. Let's boost that 330 million to
> make the math easier. If there is 33 million tons of food per year that
> translates to 1/10th of a ton per person,

You just failed your math test. Stay behind after school.

Janet UK

In article > ,
says...
>
> In article >,
> says...
> >
> > On 23/04/2013 5:15 PM, barbie gee wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "Each year, Americans waste 33 million tons of food. "
> > >
> > > I can't tell if people are uninformed, misinformed, lazy or just out and
> > > out stupid. It's probably more like no one understands any more what it
> > > takes to get that food on our tables, since it's so "cheap".
> >
> >
> > Let's do the math..
> > There are 313 million people in the US. Let's boost that 330 million to
> > make the math easier. If there is 33 million tons of food per year that
> > translates to 1/10th of a ton per person,
>
> You just failed your math test. Stay behind after school.
>
> Janet UK

Oh no you didn't.. sorry... too early in th morning:-)

Janet UK

On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:58:58 -0500, barbie gee >
wrote:



>
>"Particularly worrisome, the organization said, was evidence that there
>has been a 50 percent jump in U.S. food waste since the 1970s. Unsold
>fruits and vegetables in grocery stores account for a big part of the
>wasted food."

Depends on how you do the math. The supermarkets here will not sell
some old produce, but the local pig farmers take it. If it becomes
pig food, is it still wasted?

On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:43:12 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:09:20 -0400, (Tony O) wrote:
>
>>2 to 3 days why take a chance of getting sick
>
>Why throw out good food?
>
>Rule of thumb in our house is one week. It has never been a problem.

That's about when I start giving things a better look. I just
finished a ham that was close to 2 weeks. Made lentil soup that took
3 days to consume.

Part of me is surprised at how many folks just toss good food-- I'm a
cheap ******* so I use it. Often re-purposed so it doesn't look like
'leftovers'.

I never throw anything out because it is 'x days old'.

Jim

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013 1:16:51 PM UTC-5, Judy Haffner wrote:
>
>
> My mom had told me that mayonnaise, eggs and potatoes mixed up, as for a
>
> salad, would form some sort of toxin and should only be kept around for
>
> 3 days (at the most) refrigerated.
>
Stupid mother. Stupid daughter.
>
> Judy
>
> P.S. I just noticed I added a s to thumb in the subject title making it
>
> plural! Sheesh!

Stupid.

--Bryan

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013 5:09:53 PM UTC-5, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>
>
> My mom did the chicken scenario more times than I care to remember. She
>
> would take chicken out to defrost. Then instead of cooking it, they'd eat
>
> out. Again and again until she would call me and say that she had to throw
>
> the chicken out!

Your mother was a pig. You are a pig. You've facilitated turning your daughter into a pig. If she wasn't just as stupid as she is physically revolting, she'd realize that you have ruined her life, turned her into a younger version of you. Then maybe she'd Lizzie Borden your fat ass, and do this NG a big favor.

--Bryan

Bryan wrote:

>Stupid mother. Stupid daughter.

And.....Stupid poster!

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 1:58:01 AM UTC-4, Judy Haffner wrote:
> Kalmia wrote:
>
if you've made
>
> > more than you wish to face in the next
>
> > day or two, FREEZE it.
>
> So you're saying, that when you make soup (or stew) for instance, or
>
> spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, or cook a roast, turkey, chicken, ham, etc.,
>
> you only make enough for two, or however members are in your immediate
>
> family, and you have no leftovers?

I didn't say I never had leftovers. I said ( now read this with great CARE) either gauge portions, or freeze the leftovers.

Ya know, you're asking the questions of a green newlywed.

Kalmia wrote:

>Ya know, you're asking the questions of
> a green newlywed.

The questions I asked were meant to be serious, which some responded to
in the same fashion, but others (not to mention names) were extremely
juvenile.

Hubby and I have had many discussions on how long something can be kept
in the refrigerator (we don't have extra freezing space for left over
food, which I have clearly stated) before it should be disposed of. If
he had his way, it would be tossed the following day, if not eaten, so
this was a perfectly legitimate question. I have no control over how YOU
perceived it, nor do I care to be honest.

Judy

In article >,
says...
>
> On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 1:58:01 AM UTC-4, Judy Haffner wrote:
> > Kalmia wrote:
> >
> if you've made
> >
> > > more than you wish to face in the next
> >
> > > day or two, FREEZE it.
> >
> > So you're saying, that when you make soup (or stew) for instance, or
> >
> > spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, or cook a roast, turkey, chicken, ham, etc.,
> >
> > you only make enough for two, or however members are in your immediate
> >
> > family, and you have no leftovers?
>
> I didn't say I never had leftovers. I said ( now read this with great CARE) either gauge portions, or freeze the leftovers.
>
> Ya know, you're asking the questions of a green newlywed.

By not buying food to waste/throw away she could save enough money
to buy a proper freezer.

Janet UK.

On Apr 23, 10:48*am, (Judy Haffner) wrote:
> I know some people don't care to eat "leftovers" from a meal, but with
> it just being hubby and I now, usually we always have some to store in
> the refrigerator, but I'm never quite sure just how long someone should
> eat on them.
>
> I can remember my grandmother saying she was making spaghetti, or a stew
> that would last them all week, but mostly I will toss out anything that
> is left after a couple of days has passed. We only have the freezer unit
> in the top of our 14 cu. ft. refrigerator, so generally don't freeze
> leftovers.
>
> I particularly like soups & stews, and spaghetti sauce reheated the next
> day, and some casseroles, as the flavor is better after it's had time to
> blend.
>
> So how long does anyone here keep leftovers around and eat on them,
> including cooked turkey, chicken, ham, etc.?
>
> How about salads, such as potato salad, or a pasta salad? Mom use to say
> potato salad should be dumped out after the 3rd day, so I've always done
> that.
>
> Judy

Three days for anything with meat or eggs. Other salads, it depends
on how they look and taste. If it's icky or watery, I throw it out.
I don't get excited about having to throw stuff out because it's not
that big a deal when compared with food poisoning, even a mild case.

N.

On Apr 23, 1:51*pm, "Pico Rico" > wrote:
> "Judy Haffner" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Bob wrote:
>
> >>I usually eat leftovers for several days; in
> >> fact I make soup about 3 quarts at a
> >> time so I will have enough for a week
> >> (not eating it every day; would need 5 or
> >> 6 quarts for that) If I have more left over
> >> than I think I'll be able to eat, the excess
> >> goes in the freezer in single large
> >> portions to take to work for lunches.
>
> > I'm sure homemade soups and stews can be kept in the refrigerator for
> > several days, after cooking, if is well covered, and just take out
> > enough each time to reheat and eat, unless maybe has a milk base, such
> > as potato soup.
>
> After a couple days, take the entire batch and heat it through, and then
> your clock starts over.

That isn't a cure-all for everything. You are lucky if you have done
that indiscriminately with all kinds of food and not been sick.

N.