Cooking for one or two
Leftovers are a map
Every extra portion needs a job, written down, before it goes into the fridge.
By Chris Lee, home cook · 4 min · Updated 2026-11-05
Write the leftover's job on the planner: lunch Monday, or freezer, or breakfast. "We'll see" is how it becomes trash on day five.
Safely cooked leftovers generally keep 3–4 days at 40°F or below. Freeze earlier than that if you are not sure. Pack lunch before dinner is served so the portion is fair.
A leftovers plan for single cooks is the small-household version. The same map works for two people. It is not more noble to throw food away than to freeze it.