how long does it take the stomach to empty
492 Followers. A. Stomach-emptying time varies from person to person, but generally, two hours is a reasonable average. When you are ill, food can stagnant in the stomach for longer periods of time, or even quickly move on to the small intestines.When you are having surgery, they will want you NPO (nothing by mouth) for about 8-12 hours, just to be sure.hen you are ill, food can stagnant in the stomach for longer periods of time, or even quickly move on to the small intestines. When you are having surgery, they will want you NPO (nothing by mouth) for about 8-12 hours, just to be sure.