How long can you safely store food and easy tips?
This is a question that truly crosses everyone’s minds at some point every day, how to store different foods. I know I’ve spent a lot of time over the years standing in my kitchen thinking ‘so if I put this pasta in some Tupperware and put it in the fridge, will it still be okay on Thursday?’
In this article, I’m going to run through how long you can store some of the major food groups. I hope I can help! If in doubt remember you can put things in the freezer to store them for longer.
Cooked Veg
Uncooked veg is pretty easy to keep in your fridge, thanks to the fact that mould or bacteria would rather attack more high-calorie food sources, like meat or cheese. However, when the veg is cooked, and you’ve added fats and spices in the cooking process, mould can be more likely to grow.
Provided it’s stored in an airtight container, cooked veg can be stored in the fridge for up to seven days. Beyond that point, mould and bacteria may develop, making the food no longer safe to eat. Check how to store different foods and if in doubt throw it out.
Cooked Meat and Poultry
There are a lot of different timescales here to store different foods, as different types and cuts of meat will attract mould and bacterial growth at different rates. This is due to differing salt and fat content in different meat. Meats with high salt and low-fat content can be stored in the fridge for longer, and vice versa.
It goes without saying that it isn’t wise to allow the chicken to cool and then reheat, but other meats can be kept for longer. There are plenty of graphs and charts out there for different types of meat, but generally speaking, you can keep cooked red meat in your fridge for three to four days before it will no longer be food safe.
Eggs
Eggs can be a difficult one, in terms of food safety. Generally speaking, if they have the red lion stamped on them, then your chance of salmonella is incredibly low. For that reason, always buy red lion eggs.
When raw, eggs can be kept in the fridge for three to five weeks before they are no longer food safe. When cooked, the time that you can keep them varies, but as a general rule of thumb: three to four days. Beyond that, it’s a little too dubious, and it might be wise to cut your losses and throw the egg away.
A good way to test if a raw egg is still good or not is by putting it in a glass of water. If the egg sinks to the bottom, it is safe and fresh. If the egg floats, it’s bad and shouldn’t be eaten. More tips with eggs here.
A good way to ensure that all of your food keep for longer is to decrease the temperature of your fridge. You will end up spending a little more on electricity, but you’ll save money in terms of food waste.
I hope that through the course of this article, I’ve helped you to figure out whether or not it’s safe to eat that threatening-looking casserole in your fridge. Now, go forth and eat with confidence. Or don’t, if the food’s bad.
Other articles you may find helpful
A recipe for onion gravy that freezes well
How to reduce food waste in 15 easy steps
90 ways to save money on your food shop