How Long Does Spaghetti Last In The Fridge?
How long does spaghetti last in the fridge? Today we take an in-depth look at the different ways you can store leftover pasta, how long it will last in the fridge and freezer, and how you should properly store these tasty dishes.
If you love educational articles like this one you will also enjoy “How To Reheat A Burrito” and “How Long To Cook Meatloaf.” I have loads more on my website, so don’t forget to check them out!
Can You Store Leftover Spaghetti In The Fridge?
Is there anything easier and more convenient than making a big pot of spaghetti or pasta for dinner? Think about it: It can literally be as easy as cooking pasta in water and stirring in a pre-made sauce. Amazing, right?
And, if you are wanting to be a little more artisanal, you can make your own homemade spaghetti or pasta and homemade white or tomato sauce. This is honestly my personal favorite way to make spaghetti despite taking some time.
Unfortunately, no matter which way you end up going, more often than not you will end up with a bunch of leftovers.
So, one of the most asked food questions on the internet is if you can store leftover spaghetti bolognese and other pasta dishes.
The short answer is that you definitely can. However, there are a couple of factors you will need to take into consideration.
How Long Are You Planning On Storing The Leftovers?
The first consideration is how long you need to store the leftover spaghetti. If it is only for a couple of days, you can store it inside the fridge.
If you don’t plan on eating the spaghetti within a couple of days, it could be best to freeze any leftovers.
Unfortunately, spaghetti doesn’t freeze incredibly well, but it’s still better than throwing away food and ultimately, money.
How Old Are The Ingredients You Made The Spaghetti With?
This is something not enough people think about. In my house, spaghetti is often made with ingredients that are getting to the end of their shelf life. So, that means that sometimes I use ground beef to make meatballs that are on their last recommended shelf-life day.
Ultimately, this affects how long the spaghetti will be able to last inside the fridge.
If the ingredients are nearly expired when you use them, you will only be able to store the leftovers for a day.
If you are using nearly expired seafood, DO NOT store leftovers. The risks are too high.
At the end of the day, the rule that I follow is: “If you are unsure about it, rather toss it.” That doesn’t mean you should toss everything nilly-willy. Always check if they are still good. But always trust your gut.
So, How Long Does Spaghetti Last In The Fridge?
If you store leftover spaghetti properly, it can easily last between 3-5 days. This timeframe only applies to homemade spaghetti that has been made with fresh ingredients.
As I have said, if you used nearly expired ingredients, rather keep any leftover pasta for a day only.
If you are storing the elements separately, this will affect the shelf life as well.
Storing some elements separately will allow others to last much longer. For example, a pasta sauce can last up to a week if it is stored separately from the cooked or fresh pasta and meat toppings. The cooked pasta sauce itself isn’t as perishable.
How Long Is Spaghetti Good For In The Freezer?
Frozen leftover spaghetti and pasta will last roughly between 1-2 months inside the freezer.
But the sooner you eat it the better. Frozen pasta is not very good when it is thawed and reheated. Don’t get me wrong: it’s edible. But it’s not nearly as good as when it was made fresh – even when it is made from all premade ingredients.
The way you freeze the pasta is also going to affect its shelf life. For example, if the pasta has a ton of freezer burn (because you didn’t store it properly) it will become “bad” in about a month, maybe even less.
Now, bad doesn’t mean inedible. But who wants to eat mushy pasta?
How To Properly Store Spaghetti In The Fridge
If you have leftover spaghetti, the best way to store any leftovers is inside a clean, odor and stain-free airtight container.
Then, you can simply place the container in the fridge away from fresh and highly perishable ingredients. In my fridge, I have an allocated space for cooked or preserved ingredients and dishes.
How To Freeze Spaghetti
Freezing spaghetti requires a little bit more work. You should still place the leftover pasta inside an airtight container.
But the next step is essential: wrap the container in a layer of aluminum foil. The foil acts as a protective barrier that will help prevent excessive freezer burn.
Once wrapped in foil, add a label with the name of the dish, the freezing date, and the estimated use-by date. Remember, this is roughly between 1 to 2 months.
FAQs
Can you eat 2 week old spaghetti?
It depends on where you stored the spaghetti. If you stored it at room temperature, definitely no. If you stored it inside the fridge, it isn’t going to be good either, especially if it contains perishable ingredients. The only way eating 2-week-old pasta is possible is if you froze the leftovers the day you made the dish.
How can you tell if spaghetti have gone bad?
The easiest way to tell if pasta dishes have gone bad is to check for physical changes and odors. Black, brown, or white spots will appear on the pasta, and you may even see mold. Then, it will also smell sour, rotten, and spoiled.
How do you reheat frozen spaghetti?
You can use two methods: the quick one or the slow one. The slow one involves first thawing the spaghetti inside the fridge for a couple of hours before reheating it in a saucepan.
The quick method involves heating the frozen spaghetti over medium-low heat in a saucepan or microwave. You may need to add a bit of water to prevent the dish from drying out.
