So you have cooked this great meal and somehow the leftovers got pushed to the back of the fridge. You find it a week later--a full seven days. Do you eat it? How long can you save food and it still be safe to eat?

According to Mayo Clinic Nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., leftovers should only be kept for three to four days. The smell test isn't enough since some food poisoning doesn't not alter the taste, odor or appearance of the food. Bacteria growth only slows down in colder temperatures. The growth is still occurring so don't be fooled. Even though you are upset that your hard work is going to be thrown away because no one finished the leftovers, think about how long you will spend in the ER if you eat bad food. I have heard that food poisoning is not something to mess around with. It is painful. Just think of your worst stomach virus and quadruple that!

I can remember keeping food for 10 days and still eating it. That, of course, was in my younger days and it couldn't be something that sat in a plastic bag or lightly covered with foil. It had to be stored properly. Now you won't catch me eating something a week old. After writing this blog you won't catch me eating anything after four days! Yuck!

How long have you kept food in the fridge and still ate the leftovers?

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