For most people, the typical spaghetti meal involves boiling noodles for around twelve minutes before combining them with sauce and meatballs.
Once that meal is over, many of us are left wondering what to do with the leftover noodles.
And it’s precisely this question – ‘How Long Does Spaghetti Last in the fridge?‘ – that sparked my interest.
I decided to find out how long fresh Spaghetti would stay good in the fridge and was surprised at how little information I could find on the subject.
After looking through a few different sources, here’s what I found:
How long is Spaghetti good for in the fridge?
Spaghetti can last up to five days in the refrigerator. I must note here that although pasta can last up to five days in the fridge, sour cream and yogurt should only be kept for three days at most. I’ll continue talking about how long Spaghetti lasts in the fridge below, but I’ll also tell you how long sour cream and yogurt can remain outside of a refrigerator.
Cooked Spaghetti Shelf Life
According to the USDA, cooked Spaghetti can last in a refrigerator for up to four days.
Fresh Pasta Shelf Life
According to the USDA, fresh pasta can last in a refrigerator for up to ten days.
Dry Pasta Shelf Life
According to the USDA, dry Spaghetti can last in a dry pantry for up to two years.
You might be surprised that pasta lasts such a long time when it’s packaged and not refrigerated.
However, as any of us who’ve ever gone grocery shopping before know, pasta is usually thrown into coolers immediately after production. These coolers keep the Spaghetti at a temperature of roughly forty degrees Fahrenheit, which is cold enough to keep the pasta safe for consumption.
It’s important to note that you should never let your cooked pasta sit out for more than two hours as this could cause bacteria to grow on it, increasing its chance of spoilage and making it unsafe to eat.
How to know if Spaghetti is bad?
There are a few factors that you can check for yourself to know if the Spaghetti is bad or rotten now. Here are the factors to need to pay attention to.
- Slimy Texture: The very first thing that you will notice in rotten or bad Spaghetti is its texture. If you feel that Spaghetti is not in its usual form and feels a little slimy, then the chances are higher that it might have gone bad. As Spaghetti can dry out faster, thus resulting in a very slimy texture because of moisture loss from the product.
- Color Change: Spaghetti has a specific color that should be maintained while storing them at the right temperature. So, find that Spaghetti has started to lose its color even before the use by date or there is a subtle change in Spaghetti’s color. There might be an issue with the storage process, which cannot be controlled by the manufacturer any longer.
- Bad Smell: There is no smell of rotting food products, but still, if Spaghetti has a bad smell to it, then there is no doubt about the product being spoiled. But, there are times when good pasta can also have a different kind of smell to it, and that’s why you need to be quick with your judgment and use it as soon as possible.
- Mold: Another indicator that the Spaghetti might not be good for consumption is the presence of mold on it. Spaghetti is made up of flour and moisture, which can provide a suitable environment for the growth of molds. If you find that Spaghetti has started to grow mold over it, you should not eat it under any circumstances, increasing your chances of being sick exponentially.
How to Store Spaghetti for a Long Time?
There are two simple and easy ways to store Spaghetti for a long time.
Either Refrigerate it, or second one is to freeze the Spaghetti.
Shelf Life in Refrigerator
If you keep your Spaghetti at a cool temperature between 45°F and 32°F, then it will last up to five days. But, if you keep it at a slightly warmer temperature which is around 40°F, then it might only be good for three days at best.
Shelf Life in Freezer
If you want to make the Spaghetti stay fresh for a long time without any issue, then the best way to do so is by keeping it in a freezer. If you want to store Spaghetti in a freezer, then make sure that it is wrapped properly and sealed so that there is no chance of any contamination or moisture loss while it stays inside the freezer.
If you plan to store your Spaghetti for months at the end in the freezer, you should be buying it in bulk as this will reduce the chances of Spaghetti getting spoiled for no reason.
How do you cook Spaghetti?
The steps to cooking spaghetti are simple and straightforward. If you know how to cook pasta, you can use that knowledge to know how long Spaghetti lasts in the fridge as well.
First Step: You need to find a large pot where you can fit the Spaghetti and still have room left for boiling it. The next step is to add water, preferably cold water, as this will prevent the Spaghetti from sticking together while cooking it.
Second Step: Now take your Spaghetti and repeat the word “me-ta-bo-li-an” over and over again until you have it properly memorized. Then add the spaghetti to the boiling water and wait for it to cook.
In case there is a pack of instructions on how to properly cook your Spaghetti, then you should follow that as well, but just in case there isn’t, then all that I have mentioned above will get it done for you.
The Final Step: Once your Spaghetti is ready, drain off the water, get it out on a plate, and serve hot with some sauce or even butter if that’s what you prefer. Note: Spaghetti can also be incorporated into different recipes, such as spaghetti bolognese, making the food all the more delicious and mouthwatering.
So, this was a guide on how to cook Spaghetti and how long it lasts in the fridge, which will help you make smart decisions regarding buying and storing pasta at home. You can keep your family safe from getting sick due to improperly stored or cooked food by following these tips.
What is the Shelf Life of Spaghetti Sauce?
Generally, spaghetti sauce is known to be good for 9 months to 1 year if stored properly. Spaghetti sauces can also be kept in the freezer for about 4-6 months only; keep in mind that once you take out the paste from the freezer, it will need to be used within 3 or 4 days because, after this time period, it starts to lose its properties.
There are different kinds of spaghetti sauce that have a different shelf life as well.
Alfredo White Sauce
This type of sauce is good for about 5 months to 7 months if properly freezing. If you plan to store this type of spaghetti sauce in the fridge, it will long last up to 4 days.
Tomato Red Sauce
If you are going to freeze the red tomato sauce, it will long last for about 6 months. However, the sauce will only be good for about 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Fish and Meat Sauce
In the freezer, fish and meat sauce will remain good for about 8 months, while in the refrigerator, it should stay good for 5-7 days maximum.
How to Properly Store Spaghetti in Fridge?
Please follow the step-by-step guide below.
- Take out the Spaghetti from the box and check if it has any holes because if there are then, you need to repack your pasta. If your pasta is packed properly without any hole or damage, then carefully put it in a fridge-safe container that can be closed tightly. Make sure that you do not overload this container, as this will only lead to a spaghetti disaster.
- Keep the container in a part of your fridge where there is minimal traffic, and the temperature remains constant throughout the year, which is about 35°F or 1°C. This way, you can extend the life of your Spaghetti by many days.
- Note: if you plan to use your pasta after 4-5 days, then it is better to store it in an airtight container.
How do you Freeze Spaghetti Sauce?
So, if after reading the article about how long does Spaghetti lasts in the fridge you decide that you want your pasta sauce to be good for 8 months, then here are some steps that can help you achieve just that.
First of all, take a freezer-safe container and add some sauce to it. Keep in mind that the sauce level should only be about an inch or so, and it shouldn’t come up to more than half of the container.
If your Spaghetti is already packed without any holes, you can put the lid on tightly and if not, add some plastic wrap on top of the container so when you open it up in the future, your sauce won’t spill out.
Label the container with the date that you put your spaghetti sauce in the freezer, and then place this in a part of the freezer where there is minimal traffic to avoid contamination. By following these steps, you will keep your tomato paste good for 8 months.
How to Cook Spaghetti in the Oven?
You can cook your spaghetti pasta, either way, you want it, but if you are interested in learning how to cook it in the oven, then here are some steps that you need to follow not to have a spaghetti disaster on your hands.
References
- https://beezzly.com/how-to-store/how-long-does-spaghetti-last-in-the-fridge
- https://www.canitgobad.net/can-pasta-go-bad/