Having leftovers in your fridge is a timesaver when you have a hectic schedule—you can easily reheat a quick meal and go on with your next activity. Eating leftovers is also a perfect way to reduce food waste. With leftovers piling up in your fridge for days, and knowing that food is perishable, do you wonder how long they are good for? Find out why leftovers go bad in the first place, how to store leftovers, the signs of spoilage and when it is time to part with them.
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How to Store Leftovers
According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, leftovers should be kept out of the danger zone, the range between 40°F and 140°F where bacteria grow most rapidly. To store your leftovers safely, you should put them away within two hours of cooking (or within two hours after they've been removed from a warming appliance).
While hot food can be refrigerated directly, for large portions of leftovers that may not chill as quickly, place them in multiple shallow containers to cool faster. For large cuts of poultry and meat, cut them into smaller pieces. Alternatively, you can also place your hot food into a cold-water bath or an ice bath to bring down its internal temperature.
Cover your leftovers with plastic food wrap. You can also put your leftovers in sealable food-grade bags or use an airtight lid to cover your containers. Keeping the food covered, wrapped or sealed keeps food moist and prevents unwanted odors.
Stow the leftovers on the shelves of the fridge or freezer. Placing them on the doors will increase temperature tempering, making the leftovers not last as long. Finally, make sure your fridge has a temperature below 40°F and a freezer temperature of less than 0°F to slow down bacterial growth.
Leftovers can be stored for up to four days in the fridge and for up to four months in the freezer, according to the FSIS. However, this timeline should serve as a general rule of thumb. For best practices, you should always inspect leftovers for signs of spoilage before consuming.
How to Tell If Leftovers Are Bad
Look out for these signs indicating that your leftovers may have gone bad.
Appearance
Some obvious signs that your leftovers are no longer safe to eat is if there is a color change or visible mold. If you also notice a difference in texture, such as the food looking dried or shriveled, or a sheet of slime on the surface, you can assume that the food is also likely spoiled and should be trashed.
Smell
Another way to tell if your leftovers have spoiled is by the smell. If the leftovers are emitting any off odors or rancid scent, it's best to dump them into the compost or trash. Some leftovers may not emit a strong smell, so if you're unsure, it's best to play it safe and toss them and not risk any potential illness. You can also look for other signs of spoilage to help make your decision.
Taste
Sometimes, the food may look and smell the same as it did when you packed it into a container. If that's the case, one last resort to check for spoilage is to taste a small bite of the leftovers. Any flavor change or apparent sourness indicates the food is no longer edible. Spit it out and discard the rest of the leftovers.
What's the Best Way to Reheat Leftovers?
Whether your leftovers are in the fridge or the freezer, reheating them before consumption is recommended to ensure any bacteria are destroyed. Use a food thermometer to ensure leftovers reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F, or heat them until hot and steaming. It is best to reheat your leftovers on the stovetop or in the oven or microwave. When using the microwave to reheat foods, you may need to reheat them in intervals while rotating the food or stirring the soup or stew to ensure it's reheated evenly. Using slow cookers or hot holding elements for reheating leftovers is not recommended. They may keep the food's temperature within the danger zone range, making eating unsafe.
The Bottom Line
Leftovers generally last for up to four days in the fridge and four months in the freezer when stored properly. 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.
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.
The FDA notes that cooked leftovers should be refrigerated or frozen two hours after preparation, and that leftovers should be eaten or thrown out four days after refrigeration.
Discard all perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, eggs, side dishes, or casseroles, left at room temperature longer than two hours; one hour in room temperatures above 90 °F. Once leftovers are stored safely, they will remain safe three to four days. For more information please visit Safe Handling of Takeout Food.
Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cooked chicken lasts 3–4 days. To detect if chicken has gone bad, check the “best if used by” date and look for signs of spoilage like changes in smell, texture, and color. Avoid eating spoiled chicken, as it can cause food poisoning — even if you cook it thoroughly.
As you can see, no pasta, once cooked, is going to last longer than 5 days. In fact, if it's been in the fridge that long, it's probably best to get rid of it. Pasta lasts longer if it's been cooked in a sauce, such as leftover spaghetti bolognese or in lasagna, as this helps to preserve the ingredients.
(WTVO) — If you're eyeing that week-old pizza in the fridge and wondering if it's safe to eat it, you might want to think twice. According to the USDA, if the pizza has been refrigerated at a temperature below 40 degrees, its only safe to eat for up to 4 days.
Cooked ground beef can last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. To ensure it remains safe to eat, store the cooked beef in an airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. If you want it to last longer, you can freeze cooked ground beef for up to 3-4 months.
Cooked potatoes and other cooked vegetables can be safely kept in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates fruits and vegetables, if more information is needed on produce, you can call the FDA toll-free at (888) 723-3366 or go to their website at FDA (www.fda.gov).
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.
Food that is stored in a freezer at zero degrees will be safe to eat indefinitely. However, if meat is frozen too long it may lose quality and taste. If you are unsure if meat is still fresh, you can determine this once it has been thawed.
Tomato-based pasta sauce is inherently acidic, but extra acid is added to be safe for shelf-stable canning. This helps slow the growth of bacteria, but it doesn't stop it entirely. Once opened, it's best to use your jar of pasta sauce in about five to six days.
Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. 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.
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.
Never thaw foods in a garage, basem*nt, car, dishwasher or plastic garbage bag; out on the kitchen counter, in hot water, outdoors, or on the porch. These methods can leave your foods unsafe to eat.
How Long Can You Keep Cooked Chicken in the Fridge? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that cooked chicken can last three to four days in the refrigerator, if stored at 40°F or less. 1 And that goes for any type of cooked chicken—store-bought, homemade, or restaurant leftovers.
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