How Long Do Leftovers Last?

Most cooked leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge and a few months in the freezer. Look up a food and count from the day it was cooked.

How long can cooked food sit out?

Two hours at room temperature, or one hour when it’s above 90 °F, like a summer picnic. After that, throw it away. Bacteria grow rapidly between 40 °F and 140 °F, so hot food stays at 140 °F or warmer and cold food at 40 °F or colder.

How long leftovers last: the chart

Food	Fridge	Freezer
Leftover turkey, stuffing, homemade gravy	3 to 4 days	2 to 6 months
Cooked chicken and poultry dishes	3 to 4 days	4 to 6 months
Cooked meat	3 to 4 days	2 to 6 months
Ham, cooked, sliced or spiral cut	3 to 5 days	1 to 2 months
Soup, stew or chili	3 to 4 days	2 to 3 months
Casseroles	3 to 4 days	2 to 3 months (with eggs)
Pizza	3 to 4 days	1 to 2 months
Cooked rice	4 to 6 days	6 months
Cooked pasta	3 to 5 days	1 to 2 months
Cooked vegetables or potatoes	3 to 4 days	1 to 2 months
Cooked fish	3 to 4 days	1 to 2 months
Hard-boiled eggs	1 week	Do not freeze
Egg, chicken, tuna or macaroni salad	3 to 4 days	Does not freeze well
Pumpkin or pecan pie	3 to 4 days	1 to 2 months
Fruit pie	1 week	8 months
Opened canned beans, soup or corn, moved to a covered container	3 to 4 days	No time given

How to cool and store leftovers

Cool them fast. Divide big batches into shallow containers, slice roasts and hams, and cut turkey into smaller pieces; legs and wings can stay whole. Hot food can go straight into the fridge. Cover it or seal it so it keeps its moisture and doesn’t pick up smells.

How to reheat leftovers safely

Heat leftovers to 165 °F. Bring soups, sauces and gravy to a rolling boil. Cover the dish so it heats all the way through. In the microwave, cover it, stir or turn it, and check the temperature in more than one spot, because microwaves leave cold spots. Frozen leftovers can be reheated without thawing; it just takes longer.

Can I freeze leftovers, and freeze them again?

Food kept at 0 °F stays safe; the freezer times above are for flavor and texture. Thaw leftovers in the fridge, in cold water or in the microwave. Leftovers thawed in the fridge can go back in the freezer. Food thawed in cold water or the microwave should be cooked or heated to 165 °F first. Anything left after reheating can be frozen again.

Thanksgiving leftovers

Get turkey, stuffing and gravy into the fridge within 2 hours of dinner. Use them within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for 2 to 6 months. Planning the bird itself? The turkey planner works out the thawing and the oven times.

Is my food safe after a power cut?

Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed. A closed fridge keeps food safe for up to 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, or 24 hours if it’s half full.

After more than 4 hours without power, throw out these from the fridge:

• Meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers
• Casseroles, soups, stews, pizza, gravy and stuffing
• Mixed salads, such as chicken, tuna, macaroni or potato salad
• Milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream and soft cheeses
• Cut fruit and vegetables, cooked vegetables and opened juice
• Custard, chiffon or cheese pies, and cream-filled pastries

Usually fine: hard cheese, butter, bread, fruit pies, whole fruit and vegetables, mustard, ketchup, jam and pickles. From the freezer, food that still has ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below can be refrozen. Never taste food to decide. When in doubt, throw it out.