Dear Cheapskate: How long should leftovers be kept in the fridge? I have been debating this with co-workers, as one left her beef stew in the refrigerator for over a week and thought it was OK to eat.—Angela N., New Brunswick, Canada
Dear Angela: There’s no debate here—you win by at least three days. The shelf life of any food will depend on the food itself, packaging, temperature and humidity. The folks at www.foodsafety.gov advise that if it’s a highly perishable type of food, like a cooked meat product, three to four days should be the maximum. Generally, leftovers should be discarded after 48 hours in the refrigerator.
