Are Those Leftovers Still Good?

Ever wonder how long that homemade beef stew you made last week will stay good? What about that can of almonds you opened three months ago? And how about those (line-caught) salmon steaks you grilled for last Saturday's dinner party?

The answers to these and thousands of other questions about food-and-beverage freshness, safety, and storage can be found at StillTasty.com, the "ultimate shelf-life guide." On its Keep it or Toss It? section, you can browse different foods by category (vegetables, dairy, meat, etc.), or enter the food item in question into the "Search" box. (We tried stumping the site with capers, chutney, and caviar, and got multiple hits for all three.)

The "Your Questions Answered" section provides detailed answers to common, vexing questions, like "Is it OK to eat that pizza I forgot to refrigerate last night?" How about a burger that's still pink inside? Do you really have to rinse raw chicken before you fry it?

You can also pose your own questions or email comments and suggestions to comments@stilltasty.com. And the Shelf Talk section—so far the site's least-developed corner—features articles and discussions about expiration dates, defrosting food safely, and keeping fruit luscious.

--Tom Valtin