How Long Will Cooked Meat Stay Fresh in Your Fridge?

Food safety and meat

Every year, approximately one out of every six people—amounting to about 48 million Americans—are affected by foodborne illnesses, leading to around 128,000 hospitalizations and causing roughly 3,000 fatalities, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (If this has happened to you before, you may have questioned whether you were going to die, even if your condition was not serious enough to require medical care.)

However, where exactly are these foodborne illnesses originating? Identifying the precise source of outbreaks can be challenging, yet the CDC approximates that nearly half can be traced back to meat and seafood products.

"When it comes to preventing illnesses caused by animal products, it's crucial to understand how to correctly handle and prepare meats and seafood, which includes learning proper storage methods both prior to and following preparation," explains Candess Zona-Mendola, a food and water safety advocate and the editor of MakeFoodSafe.com.

Animal products may have harmful pathogens as well as spoilage-causing bacteria. While refrigeration does slow down bacterial proliferation, it cannot halt it entirely, says the USDA. These refrigeration rules for prepared meats aim to maintain foods inside safe limits concerning various kinds of bacterial development. It applies not only to meat but also includes comprehensive details about how " sell-by date ” means, how long milk lasts , expired eggs and Foods you should absolutely avoid after their expiration dates.

For how long can you keep cooked meat in the refrigerator?

In most cases, this timeframe ranges from one to five days, varying according to the specific kind of meat, its preparation method, and handling practices, as stated by Zona-Mendola.

Americans already squander a staggering quantity of quality edibles , often due to uncertainty regarding the safety of reheated leftovers—but as Emily Broad Leib, JD, who directs the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School, points out, most foods remain wholesome, edible, and safe well beyond their expiration dates.

Several items have exemptions, such as deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products, which may become more hazardous after their packaging dates. Therefore, these should be discarded when the expiration date passes, according to her advice. "Rely on your own discretion and sensory observations," Leib advises. "If something appears or smells off, it likely has gone bad."

But for how long does that last? leftover hamburger or chicken was put in the refrigerator last after cooking it All meats should be kept in a securely closed container within a refrigerator maintained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. According to Dana Gunders, who serves as the executive director of ReFED and authored "Waste Free Kitchen Handbook," this practice ensures safe storage of prepared meats and minimizes food wastage. Waste-Free Kitchen She mentions that freezing food can significantly prolong the lifespan of your prepared meats. Freezers ought to be kept at zero degrees or below; here’s precisely how you can check this. If your freezer is at the appropriate temperature, .

We offer the professional guidance required to securely and safely keep cooked meat.

Chicken

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2–5 months

Purchase precooked chicken breasts in large quantities or a Costco rotisserie chicken , and freeze individual portions in freezer bags so you only need to thaw out as much as you require.

Turkey

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2–5 months

According to guidelines, there are three secure methods to defrost frozen meat and poultry: in the fridge, submerged in cold water, and using a microwave. USDA . But their preferred method, to optimize flavor and texture, is to thaw meat on a tray overnight in the refrigerator. Use these tips to buy the perfect turkey.

Beef

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2–5 months

If you defrost too much meat, you can securely refreeze the thawed meat within two to four days provided it was thawed inside your fridge. Yet, if it was thawed on your counter or in the microwave, do not refreeze it. Instead of discarding it, consider cooking the thawed meat; once cooled down, you can safely freeze it afterward.

Pork

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2–5 months

If meal prepping is your thing, think about getting yourself some suitable equipment. vacuum sealer . These allow you to tightly wrap raw or cooked pork (or other meats and foods) without any air bubbles for better results when freezing.

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Ham

Refrigerator: 3–5 days

Freezer: 1–2 months

Various types of ham cuts might remain fresh for an extended period when stored in the freezer, with their longevity influenced by factors such as being either bone-in or boneless, along with whether they have been cured. A cured ham piece removed from the bone and properly sealed could stay good for up to four months when kept frozen.

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Precooked hot dogs

Refrigerator: 7 days or expiration date

Freezer: 1–2 months

Bacon

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 1 month

You have the option to freeze bacon whether it's cooked or raw. safely. For folks who only want to cook a few slices at a time, roll up individual slices of bacon, place on a tray and freeze overnight. Once frozen, put them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to cook, just take out as many slices as you need. Next, find out when does butter expire .

Sausage

Fresh cooked sausage

Refrigerator: 3–4 days

Freezer: 2–3 months

Precooked or preserved sausage

Refrigerator: 3 weeks

Freezer: 1–2 months

If you plan to freeze peppers and onions as accompaniments for your sausage, it's preferable to precook them. Many vegetables have high water content, leading to a mushy texture when frozen uncooked.

Canned sausage? Discover all the details right here. How long can canned foods remain good? .

Fish

Refrigerator: 2–3 days

Freezer: 1 month

Most fish should only be kept in the refrigerator for a day or two, but grilled salmon will keep up to four days in the fridge before needing to be frozen. When freezing raw fish, be sure to wrap tightly in freezer paper before putting it into a plastic bag.

Precooked deli meat

Refrigerator: 2 weeks when sealed, 3 to 5 days once opened or past the use-by date

Freezer: 1–2 months

Certainly, you can freeze deli meat. If it has been opened, encase it in plastic and place it in a sealed bag; it should stay good for one to two months when stored in the freezer. For unopened packages of deli meat, you can freeze them right in their original packaging, though adding an extra layer of protection with another plastic bag might help avoid freezer burn.

Deli salads

Refrigerator: 3–5 days

Deli salads such as chicken, tuna, egg or pasta salad will last three to five days in the fridge and should not be frozen. One reason? Mayonnaise is one of The items of food you should absolutely avoid freezing. because when it thaws, it will separate, taking on a clumpy texture that’s anything but appetizing. Or try these foods that never expire .

Sources:

• United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Connecting Foodborne Illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths to food products through outbreak data in the U.S., 1998–2008
• Candess Zona-Mendola, an advocate for food and water safety who also serves as an editor, MakeFoodSafe.com
• Emily Broad Leib ,JD, Faculty Director, Food Law and Policy Clinic, Harvard Law School
• Dana Gunders , who serves as the executive director of ReFED and has also authored a book, Waste-Free Kitchen