I clean my fridge regularly, because, in my house, I’m the only one who eats leftovers. I also check out all of those half-empty jars of condiments. I find those packets from the Chinese food place, catsup from fast food, cheese from Italian take out, and bottles/jars of mayo, mustard, relish, chili sauce, BBQ sauce, and other condiments. I also find dibs and dabs of this and that, like 1 slice of roast beef, or 2 tablespoons of rice, or a forkful of spinach. At the beginning of the year, I throw away anything that has been there since my last seasonal clean in June.
I also check the milk, eggs, and other perishable things that I wouldn’t normally think about. According to the FDA Food Code, all perishable foods that are opened or prepared should be thrown out after 7 days, maximum. No leftovers should survive in your fridge for longer than that. Some foods should be even be thrown away before the 7 day mark. Read more HERE.
If you lose power this winter, how long should you keep food? According to the CDC, throw out perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish, cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, and leftovers) after 4 hours without power or a cold source like dry ice. Read more HERE.