- How to Cook
Don’t dig into that few-days-old pizza just yet—check this guide to storing leftovers and how long they’ll last in the fridge or freezer first.
By
Katlyn Moncada
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/katlyn-moncada-headshot-38764023fdf34bf7a8cf82c97da87741.jpg "How Long Do Leftovers Last? This Chart Tells You What’s Safe to Eat (1)")
Katlyn Moncada
Katlyn Moncada is the associate food editor at BHG.com, sharing food news and tutorials on becoming better home cooks. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience in digital media, photography, and video production.
Learn about BHG's Editorial Process
Updated on January 29, 2024
Fact checked by
Marcus Reeves
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MarcusCoverShot-6334ea1001684f06aefe8c0f61eef033-275ac15c98d649b7a15f14e13bb9d7bb.jpg "How Long Do Leftovers Last? This Chart Tells You What’s Safe to Eat (2)")
Fact checked byMarcus Reeves
Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process
When it comes to leftovers, you might automatically think about the big holiday feasts that leave loads of leftover turkey and mashed potatoes. But as someone that lives alone and loves to cook and bake, I almost always have plenty of leftovers. I try to freeze any abundant leftovers to avoid food waste, but it's easy to lose track of just how long that leftover pizza has been stashed in the back of the fridge. With the help of our Test Kitchen (which uses the USDA as a resource), I tracked down the most common foods that we end up with leftovers. Of course, you'll want to make sure you follow proper food safety measures in packaging and storing leftovers to avoid any risk of food poisoning.
How Long Will Food Last in the Fridge or Freezer Without Power?
:strip_icc()/JD_2048-23b3dadb5fe740109bc6a1fedbdd9ab3.jpg "How Long Do Leftovers Last? This Chart Tells You What’s Safe to Eat (3)")
How Long to Store Leftovers
Use this leftover food chart as a guide on how long you can continue eating foods after they've been opened or prepared. If you have food that's unopened, go ahead and follow the expiration date for the "use by" or "freeze by" dates. When in doubt, take the safer route by tossing it.
| Type of Food | Fridge | Freezer |
| Bacon, ham, hot dogs, and cooked sausage (links and patties) | 1 week | 1 month |
| Bread | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 3 months |
| Butter | 1 to 2 months | 6 to 9 months |
| Cake | 1 week | 6 months |
| Cheese, hard (i.e. cheddar, swiss, Parmesan) | 3 to 4 weeks | 6 months |
| Cheese, soft (brie, goat) | 1 to 2 weeks | 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets or patties | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 3 months |
| Fried chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Rotisserie chicken | 3 to 4 days | 4 months |
| Deli meat | 3 to 5 days | 1 month |
| Egg casseroles | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Eggs, hard-boiled in shells | 1 week | not recommended |
| Egg substitutes, liquid | 3 days | not recommended |
| Fruit, sliced | 3 to 4 days | 3 months |
| Mashed potatoes | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Meat or poultry, cooked | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 6 months |
| Milk | use-by date | 3 months |
| Pancakes and waffles | not recommended | 2 months |
| Pasta | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Pies, fruit or nut | 3 to 4 days | up to 4 months |
| Pies, custard or chiffon | 3 to 4 days | not recommended |
| Pizza | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Quiche | 3 to 5 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Quinoa | 1 week | 6 to 12 months |
| Rice | 4 to 6 days | 6 months |
| Salad (chicken, egg, ham, tuna, and macaroni) | 3 to 4 days | not recommended |
| Soup | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Tofu | 1 week | 5 months |
| Vegetables | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
Looking for a more specific food to find out how long the leftovers will last? Try USDA's FoodKeeper App where you can search for products. You can also use our Test Kitchen's guide for how to stock and store your groceries.
Here's Where to Store All Your Fruits and Veggies for the Longest Shelf Life
How Long to Store Leftover Takeout
So you ordered too much takeout or have leftovers from a holiday meal. It's nice having lunch for tomorrow covered, but it's also important to make sure you're storing these perishable foods safely to avoid any illness. Pop those leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours to enjoy for up to 4 days. If it was left out longer than 2 hours (or an hour in a room that's 90°F or above), you'll need to throw it away.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
You can't always see, taste, or smell the bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Use a food thermometer to reheat leftovers to 165°F, which is a high enough temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. If your leftovers are frozen, be sure to thaw gradually in the refrigerator and not at room temperature (breads and sweets are OK to thaw on the counter).
Get Our Best Tips for Reheating Leftovers
It's not just the leftovers you'll need to watch out for safe consumption and/or the best quality. Make sure you do regular checks of your pantry and fridge for that too-old salad dressing, nut butter, and more.
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Sources
Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.
"Leftovers and Food Safety." U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2020
Related Articles
Newsletter Sign Up
Newsletter Sign Up
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
