How Long Can You Safely Keep Leftovers?

Extra hot dogs from that Fourth of July barbecue, leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving dinner or even too much pasta from a weeknight meal. It’s nice having a fridge full of food to enjoy for days to come.

But with a lot of leftover food comes a lot of responsibility. Foodborne illnesses commonly occur when leftovers aren’t stored properly or are left out too long.

So, how long are leftovers good for? As a general rule, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that leftovers can be kept in the fridge for three to four days or frozen for three to four months.

How long can you store leftover food?

If your food isn’t stored properly, it could allow bacteria to grow, says registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD.

This could lead to food poisoning, which, in some cases, can be quite serious.

“Young children, the elderly and anyone who has an autoimmune disorder are always going to be more at risk,” says Czerwony. “This is because their immune function isn’t going to be as robust as somebody who’s healthy.”

Here’s some guidance on how long to store certain types of leftovers:

Fridge vs. freezer

Deciding on whether to store your leftovers in the fridge or freezer mainly depends on how much food you have left over and how long you want to hold onto it.

If you’re going to eat the food within a few days, the fridge may be your best choice. But if you have larger amounts, consider freezing your leftovers.

How to properly store leftovers

You want to pay attention to how you’re storing leftover food.

“You really want to ensure that everything is in a sealed container so air doesn’t get to it,” explains Czerwony. “Not only will this avoid intermixing of flavors from the refrigerator, but it will also decrease the chances of that food getting spoiled.”

You can prevent freezer burn from affecting your frozen leftovers by ensuring they’re tightly wrapped as well.

“I always recommend some sort of plastic wrap and then putting it in either the container or some aluminum foil because you really want to keep the moisture out of it to maintain the integrity of it,” she adds.

Signs that food has gone bad

There are some telltale signs that your leftovers are spoiled. Toss food that:

• Looks pale, gray or greenish
• Has visible mold
• Feels slimy, sticky or mushy
• Has curdled or separated
• Smells sour or rancid or otherwise “off”

Czerwony says it’s crucial not to let food sit out for more than two hours. This is especially important if you’re planning to have a buffet-style dinner or if your meals have to be stored and transported to the in-laws or a friend’s house.

It’s also important not to place your food into the fridge too soon. You need to allow it to cool down to room temperature first.

“Make sure you don’t put the food in the refrigerator while it’s still hot,” says Czerwony. “There is a food temperature danger zone, which is 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is where the food is most susceptible to bacteria. So, let it cool down quite a bit, and then you can put it in the refrigerator. This way, it’s less likely to have any chance of bacterial overgrowth.”

Key takeaways

When it comes to how to store leftovers, the best advice is to plan in advance and follow the USDA’s food safety recommendations. And if you have any doubt whether Mom’s meatloaf is still OK to eat, don’t eat it.

“‘When in doubt, throw it out’ is the common recommendation when looking at food safety with leftovers,” concludes Czerwony.

“It’s best to be mindful of how long the food is out and how fast you can keep it out of the food temperature danger zone by either keeping it hot or cooling it down. Thinking ahead will help reduce the chances of getting any type of foodborne illness.”