How Long Does Pasta Last In The Fridge? The Answer Is Quite Simple

Many of us love pasta. It serves as the perfect meal for most of us. Any variant of pasta is acceptable to our taste buds. From breakfast to dinner, the pasta is surely an acceptable dish!

But then again, leftovers can be expected. Not all the time, we can finish a complete meal, even if it is delicious. For pasta, the way we deal with leftovers is to store them into the fridge. The question now is this: how long does pasta last in the fridge?

Of course, knowing the answer to this question is crucial. After all, you don't want to eat spoiled food. Doing so can send you to the hospital even if you have been a healthy person.

Knowing the cooked pasta shelf life and other related stuff are essential matters for pasta lovers. In this guide, I will be exploring all of these matters so that you can become a more informed kitchen warrior.

How Long Does Pasta Last In The Fridge?

The first thing that I have to emphasize is that the fridge does not extend the life of the food for too long. It can stretch the lifespan of food for days only, especially if it something perishable. Storing food for a week or more in the refrigerator is not advisable unless it is canned or contains some preservatives.

Now, how about pasta? How long does cooked pasta last?

Well, the answer to this question is entirely dependent on how you have stored the food. Proper storage, after all, can make your food go the extra mile when it comes to being a safe form of sustenance.

A cooked past that has been refrigerated properly can last for three to five days. Beyond that, you should throw the pasta already. And by the way, when I said, "refrigerated properly," I refer to the pasta being stored in resealable bags or shallow containers. Make sure that they are airtight so that spoilage won't happen.

The process of storing pasta is actually simple. Therefore, anyone can do it--even your kids. But if you don't want leftovers, my tip to you is to ensure that the servings you make are just enough for the needs of your family. Being frugal does not only help you save money. It also saves you from the hassle of fixing your leftovers and cramping your refrigerator.

How long does cooked pasta last if left at room temperature? Only a few hours--maybe around two hours or less.

Can You Freeze Cooked Pasta?

Some people have the crazy idea of freezing the pasta to extend its shelf life. I mean, how could you even freeze the pasta in the first place and expect that it will be edible?

Well, that was my notion in the past. A friend told me that it is possible to freeze cooked pasta. In fact, it is a viable method that can prolong the pasta for months. Yes. You heard it right. Freezing the pasta can make it run for another month or two.

So how can you freeze cooked pasta? The method is actually straightforward but requires extra attention. If it is your idea to make your pasta frozen, then you store it in airtight containers. Specifically, you need a heavy-duty freezer bag to ensure that the pasta won't be compromised at all.

Freezing can stop the bacteria and other elements from spoiling the food. If these factors are not present, then it is safe to say that any food can last for several months. It is one of the reasons why many markets, farms, and processing factories use extremely low temperatures to keep their perishable goods away from spoilage.

Also, here's an interesting fact. Didn't you know that freezing pasta with sauce yields the best result? On the other hand, if you freeze a cooked pasta dry, it will get mushy once you thaw it. I did not say these things because I have preferences. They are objective facts. If you don't believe me, you should do some testing by yourself. You will realize that I am telling the truth.

As a reminder, you should keep the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that consistency in freezing. If the temperature fluctuates, there's a good chance that the elements can enter and compromise your beloved pasta.

How Long Does A Thawed Pasta Last?

After freezing the pasta, you decided that you want to eat it already. Of course, you take it from the freezer so that you can thaw it. After thawing, there's a sudden feeling that tells you that you want to eat the pasta but on some other time.

Can a thawed pasta last long?

If the pasta you thawed is cooked, then it can still be stored in your refrigerator for up to three days. Any longer than that and the pasta is already not safe to be eaten already. In fact, I do recommend that once you thawed the pasta, you should eat it immediately. There's no point in making it stay in the refrigerator for too long. Unless you are really saving food, you should eat whatever you have cooked immediately.

Pasta is not similar to pickles or dried jerkies, after all. They are not the very ingredients that are made to be preserved or last long.

How To Tell If Cooked Pasta Is Bad?

There are several indicators that can say that the pasta in front of you is not edible anymore. Take these signs into account so that you avoid eating something that can ruin your tummy and potentially inject you with some foodborne diseases.

The appearance of the pasta should be observed first. Can you see some discoloration? Are there molds present? If you answered yes to these questions, then you should dispose of that pasta already. Those physical changes are signs that the pasta has gone past the point of being edible.

Next, you have to smell it. Pasta, in general, should be odorless--unless you have put some aromatic sauces and seasonings on it. The general rule here is that if the smell of the food is really bad, then you should not eat it. Your nose is telling you that it doesn't want to do anything with that food.

Of course, tasting the pasta first before doing these tests is a bad idea. Don't put yourself into risk.

Conclusion

These are the things that you should know about pasta and how you can extend its life span. We are all aware already that this delicacy will not last long if you just keep it on the room temperature. It would be really wise if you follow my recommendations as to how you should handle this particular foodstuff. Not only they will keep the hospital beds stay away, but they can also allow you to enjoy a sumptuous meal.

That's it for now. If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section.