How many times can you eat leftovers?

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
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Some friends threw a party on Sunday and apparently threw out left over fried chicken, pulled pork, potato salad and scalloped potatoes today because they 'couldn't take eating that anymore.'

I was like WTF - its only wednesday. Lots of stuff you could do to change those up but I probably wouldn't mind left overs for a week straight as long as I mixed up a lunch or dinner of something else here and there
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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I hate leftovers. It's a ticking clock for bacteria, and then I'm compelled to eat them whether I want to or not. If I have leftovers for more than a day, I really screwed up.
 

Thunder 57

Diamond Member
Aug 19, 2007
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Usually two days, three tops. Unless it's something simple like pasta without meat.
 

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
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I almost never eat leftovers, turns my stomach for some reason i can't explain.
 

Mayne

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Apr 13, 2014
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i'm weeks and weeks of eating the same thing morning/noon/night.
 
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Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
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I'm good for a max of 3x of the same meal in 1 week. I see people do Sunday meal prep and it's the same thing for 5 days and I basically die inside.
 

ElFenix

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Is it leftovers if I cook 4 lbs of marinated chicken thighs and then eat that every day for a week?
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
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I hate leftovers. It's a ticking clock for bacteria, and then I'm compelled to eat them whether I want to or not. If I have leftovers for more than a day, I really screwed up.
Leftovers rule. I used to not be so much into them, but I don't like to spend a ton of time preparing my meals and I rarely eat out. Most of my meals involve some kind of leftovers. For example:

I just ate a meal that consisted of stew I made yesterday and refrigerated and one of the 6 dishes of custard + sliced bananas that I prepared and refrigerated this morning. I just pulled that stuff out of the fridge and one at a time, heated them in the microwave. Mmmm, delicious! And super quick!!!

I'll prepare a grain and refrigerate and heat up in the MWave, e.g. rice or quinoa.

The stew I made will keep for days, I make that stew all the time and I've yet to have it go bad. Rice will eventually get moldy, I guess, but I never seem to let it sit in the fridge that long.

The other day I made carmelized onions and refrigerated it in a jar for later. That stuff seems to keep for weeks, literally. I also make walnut pesto and refrigerate it. I had some get moldy on top and I just scooped out the mold and put the jar in the microwave for long enough to kill off any mold or spores (over 160 F), and put the jar back in the fridge. Tastes fine. I've done stuff like that lots of times and never felt ill effects. If there's a lingering smell of mold/fungus I'll toss it of course, but that's rare.

I bake my own bread, slice it and put 1/2 the sliced loaf in the freezer, the other 1/2 in the fridge. The latter will start to mold after maybe a week. If only slightly attacked by mold, I'll just toast it and eat it.

With all my habits of eating leftovers I can't remember getting sick once!
 
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Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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That's one of the biggest reasons I have a vacuum-sealer...most people get tired of eating the same stuff over & over again. Vac-seal it & throw it in the freezer for when you're in the mood for whatever it is again!
 
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Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
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I had some get moldy on top and I just scooped out the mold and put the jar in the microwave for long enough to kill off any mold or spores (over 160 F), and put the jar back in the fridge. Tastes fine. I've done stuff like that lots of times and never felt ill effects. If there's a lingering smell of mold/fungus I'll toss it of course, but that's rare.

hardcore
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
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Till they're gone. People who don't eat leftovers are special snowflakes. Wasting food is a crime. I've taken food to shelters rather than throw it out. Otoh, the military throws out thousands of dollars in food every day. I estimate a million dollars a month across the nation.
 

skull

Platinum Member
Jun 5, 2000
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The other day I made carmelized onions and refrigerated it in a jar for later. That stuff seems to keep for weeks, literally. I also make walnut pesto and refrigerate it. I had some get moldy on top and I just scooped out the mold and put the jar in the microwave for long enough to kill off any mold or spores (over 160 F), and put the jar back in the fridge. Tastes fine. I've done stuff like that lots of times and never felt ill effects. If there's a lingering smell of mold/fungus I'll toss it of course, but that's rare.


Its not always the bacteria that makes you sick its the toxins they leave behind that the microwave can't kill that make you sick.

I wouldn't go that far but I'll leave stuff in the fridge for over a week and still eat it. I rarely throw left overs away. I'd feel like a terrible person if I threw away a feast because it was 3 days old.
 
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vi edit

Elite Member
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Oct 28, 1999
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Depends on the food and what is in it. We'll make a big batch of lasagna and eat that for 4 or so days. It's a lot of salt so pretty preserved. Stuff like stir fry with a lot of veggies gets kind of gross after a day. Chicken is good for a couple days and we'll put it in salads or in various dishes.

From a pure "I'm sick of eating this" I'm usually ok for about 4 days. Then I'm out.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
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3x total is the comfy number - eat it the first time you make it, and then twice as leftovers. That's a happy number. Sometimes if I make too much it will turn into a 4x total number.
 
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Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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Dec 11, 1999
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Some friends threw a party on Sunday and apparently threw out left over fried chicken, pulled pork, potato salad and scalloped potatoes today because they 'couldn't take eating that anymore.'

I was like WTF - its only wednesday. Lots of stuff you could do to change those up but I probably wouldn't mind left overs for a week straight as long as I mixed up a lunch or dinner of something else here and there
Potato salad I get throwing out after a few days. Fried chicken and pulled pork you can freeze and eat weeks or months later. Not sure about the potatoes.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
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Depends what it is. Most stuff is perfectly okay if kept for 3 or 4 days and some can go a week. I rarely go beyond the 3-4 day window though, either I'll eat it in that time or just freeze it. In the case of the OP the potatoes would get pitched out after a few days and the pulled pork and fried chicken would get frozen. When I make pulled pork I intentionally make extra to freeze a batch. It's nice to have some saved in case I'm ever lazy and want something fast and easy for dinner.
 
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Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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I live by myself so leftovers are part of my life.

Depending on the leftovers, you can mix things up a bit and create new meals.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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but... no.

:(


edit: does it help if it's fajita marinade and i'm making chicken tacos?

edit2: NOT CHICKEN FAJITAS ALL YOU DAMN YANKEES AND CALIFORNIANS!

edit3: seriously you couldn't eat that every day?
 
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