How Long Does Spaghetti Last In The Fridge? (2024)

I always cook way too much pasta, and if you’re like me, you might be wondering how long does spaghetti last in the fridge? You’re in the right place because in this guide we’ll discuss the shelf life of cooked spaghetti, how to store them, how to tell if they’ve gone bad, and more!

Spaghetti is an excellent type of pasta you can use to make a quick and delicious meal, as are other types of thin pasta.

Noodles cook fast and they’re great for busy weekdays but here’s the problem with pasta. It more than doubles in weight from dry to cooked. It’s very easy to get carried away and cook extra portions.

Don’t worry, though! Leftover pasta can be stored in the fridge or freezer and it’s just as yummy as when freshly cooked.

How Long Does It Last In The Fridge?

Cooked spaghetti is a moist food that helps bacteria multiply. This perishable quality means it has a short shelf life, even when refrigerated.

How long it stays good in the fridge depends on what other ingredients have been used.

Plain, cooked spaghetti lasts 4-5 days in the fridge, while refrigerated spaghetti with sauce will only stay good for 2-3 days.

If your spaghetti dish contains meat, you can keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Fish is more perishable than meat. Spaghetti that has a fish-based sauce stays safe to eat in the fridge for 24 hours. I recommend you eat it the next day if you want to avoid waste.

For refrigerated spaghetti made only with a tomato-based sauce, the shelf life is 3-4 days.

Spaghetti with cream or cheese-based sauce should be consumed within 4-5 days.

How Long Does Spaghetti Stay Good At Room Temperature?

As per USDA’s guidelines, cooked spaghetti stays safe to eat on the counter for a maximum of 2 hours (1 hour if the room temperature is over 90°F). This rule applies to all cooked or perishable foods.

I recommend you refrigerate spaghetti within that timeframe even if it’s plain. Cooked spaghetti may lack other perishable ingredients but it’s rich in moisture which is a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms that can cause food poisoning.

Signs Your Leftovers Have Gone Bad

As we discussed above, most cooked spaghetti should be consumed within 5 days. If your leftovers have passed that mark, they’re no longer safe to eat even if they look good.

Food in the initial stages of spoilage can still look good. It doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat. At a microscopic level, dangerous microorganisms are already multiplying and waiting to wreak havoc on your digestive system.

If your leftover spaghetti or pasta didn’t pass the 3-5 day mark but you’re not sure if it’s still fresh look out for these signs:

• A slimy or crumbly texture
• Sour or off-putting smell
• Moldy spots
• Color changes

A weird or sour odor is one of the first signs of spoiled spaghetti. If the noodles are slimy, that also indicates your leftover pasta is not safe to eat anymore.

Various types of mold can develop on spaghetti so it can look like black or brown flecks or fuzzy clouds with white or grey shades.

Any other changes in the noodles’ color are a sure sign the leftovers should be discarded. Don’t think about removing the weird-looking parts and eating the rest.

Your spaghetti is spoiled throughout even if that’s not visible to the naked eye. One thing’s for sure: it’s definitely not safe to eat!

How To Store Cooked Spaghetti In The Fridge

I recommend you refrigerate cooked spaghetti as soon as it gets close to room temperature. It will stay fresh for longer if you don’t delay to the maximum allowed time of two hours.

The best way to store cooked spaghetti in the fridge is in resealable bags or shallow airtight containers. If using a resealable bag try to push out as much air as possible.

Plain-cooked spaghetti noodles won’t stick together if you toss them in a bit of olive oil before refrigerating. That thin layer of oil will also keep them from drying out.

Spaghetti stored in the fridge in thin layers helps their temperature lower faster. That’s why shallow containers or bags work best in this case.

If you have a large batch of leftover pasta, it’s best to divide it into several smaller containers. It keeps better in smaller portions.

Every now and then I check the temperature of my fridge to make sure it’s at 40°F (4.4°C) or lower. I suggest you do the same. This is the recommended temperature for keeping foods cold.

In general, if you know you won’t be eating the leftover pasta within 3 days, freezing the cooked spaghetti is the best option.

How To Freeze Cooked Spaghetti

In the freezer, cooked spaghetti stays good for about 3 months. It might last even longer but it won’t have the best flavor and texture anymore.

Cooked spaghetti keeps better in the freezer if you leave the sauce in. When thawed, frozen plain spaghetti can become mushy. The sauce ensures the noodles will have the best texture and the spaghetti will stay safe to eat for the same amount of time.

Here’s how to freeze cooked spaghetti (with or without sauce).

• Cook the spaghetti al dente if you plan on freezing it (such as for meal-prepping purposes). This prevents it from getting mushy when thawed.
• Let the pasta come to room temperature and divide it into smaller portions if needed.
• Place the portioned noodles in freezer bags and try to push out as much air as possible before sealing the bags.
• Don’t forget to label the bags before freezing them!

How To Reheat Leftovers

Before we discuss reheating spaghetti stored in the fridge, it’s worth mentioning this is not mandatory. Cold spaghetti is safe to eat. As long as you find it enjoyable there’s no reason not to dig in.

Plain noodles (without sauce) can be reheated by placing them in a strainer and immersing them in a pot of boiling water for a minute.

Spaghetti with sauce (and other types of pasta) reheat well on the stovetop. Place the leftovers in a skillet and slowly stir them until they reheat uniformly.

Reheating pasta with sauce in the oven is also easy. Place it in an oven-safe dish and bake it for 20 minutes at 350°F (176°C).

To reheat spaghetti in the microwave, place it in a microwave-safe dish and use the reheat setting in 30-second intervals. Stir in between to make sure the noodles reheat throughout.

Don’t forget! As for all cooked foods, reheated pasta should be consumed within 2 hours if left out. Otherwise, refrigerate the leftovers as soon as they come to room temperature.

How To Reheat Frozen Spaghetti

Ideally, frozen pasta should be thawed overnight in the fridge. Then you can reheat it as you normally would reheat refrigerated pasta.

Even so, it’s possible to reheat it straight from frozen. Plain frozen spaghetti without sauce can be placed in hot water until they thaw and warm up thoroughly. Another option is to add them to a hot soup or sauce.

If you froze your spaghetti with sauce in containers that are also microwave-safe place them in the microwave on the defrost setting until they thaw. Then, you can reheat them on low for a few minutes.

How to Reheat Frozen Spaghetti Sauce

Let the frozen spaghetti sauce thaw overnight in the fridge. Then, place it in a skillet and let it warm up over low heat for 15 minutes. Make sure to give it a good stir every now and then.

The faster alternative is to thaw frozen spaghetti sauce just like you do when the dish also has pasta in it. Place it in a microwave-safe dish and thaw on the defrost setting.

Quick & Easy Pasta Recipes

Pasta is one of the most versatile pantry staples and cooks fast, especially thin pasta like spaghetti.

When you need to put food on the table fast, try one of our favorite pasta recipes.

• Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
• Easy Vegetarian Pasta
• Gooey Mac And Cheese
• Easy Macaroni Salad
• Minestrone Soup Recipe
• Instant Pot Fettuccine Bolognese

F.A.Q.

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