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Exactly How Long Does Pasta Last In the Fridge? (Inc. Storage Tips)

Quick Answer: Exactly How Long Does Pasta Last In the Fridge?

On average, a cooked pasta dish will easily last in the fridge for around 3 to 4 days on average. If stored adequately, at the perfect temperature, some pasta dishes can last up to around 5 days. However, this, of course, requires adequate storage.

Pasta is not only one of the world’s most iconic dishes but is also one of the most popular.

Pasta can be cooked in a massive number of ways, alongside a massive number of additional ingredients, to create countless dishes that taste simply incredible.

But often many people that prepare pasta find that there is plenty left over after chowing down on it.

But exactly how long will pasta last when stored in the fridge? And what are some of the best ways to go about storing it to increase its lifespan?

Let’s take a look to find out exactly how long your pasta dishes will last when stored in the fridge, and how you should go about doing it! Read on below to get started!

(Exactly) How Long Does Pasta Last in the Fridge + Storage Tips!

How Long Is Fresh Pasta Able To Last In The Fridge?

Most households make use of dried pasta products to create pasta dishes. However, it is also possible to create your own pasta at home, with some effort. But how long exactly does such pasta usually last in the fridge? 

Fresh pasta, unfortunately, will only last for around a day when placed in the fridge. This is because of the fact that fresh pasta contains egg, which is a very perishable product that can begin to spoil very quickly. 

Luckily, the likelihood is that you have made fresh pasta because you plan to use it sooner rather than later!

How Long Will Store Bought Prepared Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Store-bought pasta that has already been cooked will generally last for around 2 to 3 days when placed in the fridge. You should aim to store the pasta as adequately as possible to help it last even longer.

How Do You Know If Pasta Has Gone Bad?

Luckily, spotting pasta that has gone bad is very easy. When pasta begins to go bad, you will likely begin to spot discoloration.

Pasta is commonly rather yellow in color, but if that color begins to slowly turn to a dull gray, then the pasta may have begun to spoil.

Mold may also begin to develop on the pasta, which should immediately serve as a warning that the pasta is beyond its best and that it would be best to throw it out soon.

You may also notice that pasta has gone bad because its texture will change. When pasta goes bad, it very often becomes slightly slimy in texture, which is very unappetizing, and it also often goes slightly hard.

How Should You Store Pasta In The Fridge?

Now that we know how to spot pasta that has gone bad, why don’t we dedicate some time to looking at some ways to keep it from ever reaching such a state? These are some of the best pasta storage tips from around the world!

(Exactly) How Long Does Pasta Last in the Fridge + Storage Tips! (1)

Keep The Pasta Airtight

The very best thing you can do for your leftover pasta is to place it in an airtight container.

This is very effective because it helps to keep external contaminants and bacteria from easily reaching the pasta, in turn slowing down the spoiling process.

Placing pasta in an airtight container also helps to prevent the pasta from going hard, as it will be less exposed to the air. This means that the pasta will feel and taste fresher for much longer after placing it in there.

Airtight containers also help to ensure that the flavors of the pasta do not spread to other foods in the fridge and that other foods in the fridge do not influence the flavor of the pasta! 

Saran Wrap

If you don’t have any airtight containers, then you can also carefully wrap any leftover pasta in Saran wrap. Saran wrap is perfect for keeping leftover pasta fresh in the fridge because it naturally sticks to itself using static.

This means that you can create an airtight container to contain pasta portions of all manner of sizes. 

Saran wrap can also be tightly wrapped around the tops of things such as bowls and plates, so if you have only a bowl of pasta left over, then Saran wrap can help you to keep everything in the bowl nice and fresh! 

Resealable Bags

If you don’t have space for massive containers, or you want to divide your leftover pasta into distinct portions, then you can easily make use of resealable bags!

Resealable bags are a great solution because they are airtight, but take up very little space.

You can easily store much more pasta in the fridge, and divide distinct portions into their own bags, making it easy to serve out your leftovers!

The resealable nature of these bags also put them slightly above Saran wrap in terms of efficiency, as you can take out a small portion of pasta from each bag, and reseal the rest with ease.

On the other hand, you may need to recover a bowl with Saran wrap due to its clingy nature which makes it tough to reuse.

Can You Freeze Pasta?

Yes. Pasta actually takes surprisingly well to the freezing process, so you can help it to last much longer by placing it within there.

Pasta can last up to 3 months when placed into the freezer, even when accompanied by sauces and other ingredients.

However, you should make sure to check that any distinct ingredients are safe for freezing in order to preserve the integrity of the entire dish.

You should also aim to use up frozen pasta within the 3-month time frame, as leaving it for much longer can leave it susceptible to freezer burn, which causes it to lose its flavor and take on a terrible texture.

You should also avoid refreezing pasta, as the process of thawing and refreezing can cause the molecules of the pasta to become distorted, irreparably damaging the texture and taste of the pasta!

To Conclude

As you can now see, the pasta will generally last in an average fridge for around 3 to 4 days, but this time frame can be extended to 5 days by storing it adequately in airtight containers that help to protect the ingredients from bacteria and other airborne contaminants.

Jess Smith
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