Altar offerings.

[Pandorica]

Hey guys!
So I finally managed to get myself a little space for an altar, and since tomorrow is the winter solstice here in New Zealand, I am setting it up tomorrow.
But I have a quick question about offerings, like with food and drink offerings mostly...
When is it okay to take the offerings from the plate and bury them (aka giving them back to the earth)? is there a set number of days the offering should be left? Are there certain things that should not be left as offerings?
Everyone probably has very different methods as everyone has different deities/beliefs; but I'd love to know everyone's different opinions and thoughts.
Thanks in advance and I hope you all have a great Southern Hemisphere Yule/Northern Hemisphere Litha!

[Ashrend]

Whenever I give offerings that are physical once I have done what I set out to on my altar I give the offerings immediately to nature. My offerings is usually part of some tea iv made or fruit and seeds

[SpiritTalker]

I also just place the offering directly on the ground. Pour out the libation, crumble & scatter the bread or cake-cookies, or cut an apple or other fruit into chunks as soon as I've finished the rite. That way the wild critters can have the physical remains as the spirits take the essence only. I'd only bury an offering specifically for the underworld spirits. Offerings to household spirits I'd change daily, and scatter the physical remains for the critters outside.

Enjoy the solstice

[SilverBird]

When giving offers I usually let it sit on the offering dish for twenty four hours, yet, this is a personal preference. Merry Yule Blessings to you )0(