Cooks’ questions: how long does leftover soup last in the fridge? (2024)

FAQs

Cooks’ questions: how long does leftover soup last in the fridge? ›

Most soups stay fresh and retain their flavour in the fridge for three or four days. You should aim to consume refrigerated soup within this timeframe for maximum safety, taste, and quality.

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recommends setting your fridge temperature at 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.

Most soups can only last in a refrigerator for 3 to 4 days until they risk going bad, so make sure you place your cooled vegetable soup promptly in the freezer before this point. Make sure your soup lasts well by placing it in an airtight freezer-safe container.

High-acid canned goods such as tomato products, juice, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut and foods in vinegar-based sauces can be stored five to seven days. Low-acid canned goods, such as meat, poultry, fish, gravy, stew, soups, beans, carrots, corn, pasta, peas, potatoes and spinach) can be stored three to four days.

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

To be completely safe, you'll have to boil the soup vigorously for 10 minutes. Doing this will not only kill off any active bacteria, it will also inactivate -- but not destroy -- botulinum spores.

Most soups are safe for almost a week

Seafood soup will only last two to three days, creamy soups will likely last three, chicken soup lasts three to five, and high-acid and clear veggie soups last the longest. Still, if you smell, see, or taste anything "off," stay on the safe side and toss your soup.

You can, if you have room, even refrigerate the whole pot with the soup in it. But regardless of what you store it in, soups and stews will keep in the refrigerator for around three days.

How to know if soup is spoiled? ›

Check the texture: If the soup has become slimy or has a strange texture, it's a sign that it's gone bad. Taste a small amount: If you're still not sure, you can taste a small amount of the soup. If it tastes off or has a strange flavor, it's best to err on the side of caution and throw it out.

Either way, it's important to consider your ingredients before you let soup sit in the fridge for much longer. The Federal Food Safety Information says you can freeze it within three to four days of when it was made. Any meat will likely go bad within three days, four days tops.

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

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.

Soup can be stored for up to three months in the freezer. You should always defrost frozen soup in the fridge or the microwave. You can then reheat it in a saucepan on the stove, or in a bowl in the microwave. Soup should not be reheated more than once, so only heat up as much soup as you will eat each time.

To Store: Leftover homemade vegetable soup will last a good 3 to 4 days in the fridge. To Freeze: The liquid in the soup will expand when frozen to leave an inch headspace between the lid and the soup before placing it in the freezer. I prefer to use airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

Refrigerating is a great option if you plan on enjoying your leftovers within the week. The key to safe refrigeration is cooling down your soup to 70 °F (21 °C) within the first 2 hours of preparation, then refrigerating and storing the soup at less than 40 °F (4 °C), which prevents any bacteria from forming.

Store leftovers within two hours of cooking to avoid the danger zone and bacteria growth. If you notice any signs of spoilage, like changes in the appearance or smell, it's best to toss the leftovers and avoid potential risk of food poisoning.