Nothing says delicious “Comfort Food” like a hot, gooey batch of Mac and Cheese, and the best part is the whole family and/or all the guests agree.
But what if you didn’t finish the whole pan and you come into the kitchen in the morning to find it on the kitchen counter? It still looks delicious, of course, but is it safe to eat?
According to the USDA guidelines on food storage and safety, it is not safe to eat Mac and Cheese that has been sitting out for more than two hours. It is a perishable food item that will begin to grow bacteria at the two-hour mark unless put into cold storage.
There are plenty of things to take into consideration when cooking, storing and consuming food. Sometimes it can be hard to make a decision about whether or not a food is fresh enough to be consumed or not. We’ll show you what to look for to identify if food has gone bad!
How Long Can Mac and Cheese Sit Out?
Of course, there are two kinds of Mac and Cheese we could be talking about here. If you’re wondering about uncooked, boxed Mac and Cheese, the answer is: it can be left out for a very long time. Packaged Mac and Cheese is safe to eat for years if left in proper storage and unopened.
It’s more likely that you’re wondering about cooked Mac and Cheese because it was so delicious the first time, you’re now wondering if you can enjoy it again, even though it was left out on the counter all night.
If the “mac” were on its own, it might be a different story, but its trusty and delicious sidekick, “cheese,” gives this favorite dish a two-hour maximum on the counter before you need to get it into cold storage.
Enjoy it fresh out of the oven or off the stovetop, and then be sure to put it in the fridge or freezer before those two hours pass.
If the cooked Mac and Cheese has been left out longer than the USDA’s “Danger Zone” of two hours, your best bet is to throw it out and start again. It doesn’t feel good, but consider this a great opportunity to make a fresh, hot batch of this crowd-pleaser.
What Can Happen If You Eat Spoiled Mac and Cheese?
If you just couldn’t resist those leftovers even though they were sitting out a little (or a lot!) longer than the recommended two hours, we get it.
It was so good the first time, you hate to see it go to waste! If you eat spoiled Mac and Cheese, however, be prepared for some stomach discomfort.
If you eat spoiled food of any kind, Mac and Cheese included, you will likely experience some symptoms of food poisoning.
These can range from mild symptoms like stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, and nausea to more extreme symptoms like fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If you experience any of these more extreme symptoms, such as high fever, diarrhea for more than two days, or signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, it is best to consult with a doctor immediately. Food poisoning can be uncomfortable; dehydration can be dangerous.
How Can You Tell If Mac and Cheese Has Gone Bad?
If we’re talking about the unopened box of Mac and Cheese that somehow got lost in the back of the pantry, good news: chances are very good that it’s still edible and you’ve got your dinner plan for the night.
Dry, uncooked pasta with packaged, powdered cheese has a long shelf life as long as it has stayed sealed and dry while in storage.
If you’re not sure, or if the expiration date has passed, you can test it by pouring the dry ingredients into a clear, glass bowl to look for signs of clumping, bugs (pantry moths are the worst!), or mold growth.
If there are any signs of these things, throw the contents away and head back to the pantry for Plan B for tonight’s dinner!
If the Mac and Cheese in question is pre-cooked and leftover from dinner a few nights ago, it will be pretty clear if it’s still good to eat with a quick “sniff test.” Bacterial growth on cheese is quick to give off an unpleasant odor, so smell it and decide if it’s still good to eat.
Even more obvious will be any signs of mold growth. Here, you’ll see discoloration on the cheese and noodles if you even get that far; chances are good that you’ll smell that it has gone bad long before you see the mold growing.
As with all questions about the safety of eating a food, the best rule of thumb is always: better safe than sorry. If you aren’t sure if that smell is good or not, throw it out and start over. Your belly will thank you for erring on the side of caution.
How Should You Store Mac and Cheese?
One of the benefits of uncooked, packaged Mac and Cheese is that it has a long shelf life. Keep it stored in its original packaging in a cool, dry place.
If you know it’s going to be stored for a while, take the extra precaution of putting the unopened packages of Mac and Cheese into an airtight container (Tupperware, snap tops, etc.).
This extra precaution of using a sealable storage container for your packaged, uncooked food will help keep the uncooked food fresher as well as prevent pantry bug infestations.
If you’ve cooked your store-bought Mac and Cheese or made your own batch of it from scratch, you’ll want to save anything you didn’t eat for another meal.
To ensure safe storage of your cooked, leftover Mac and Cheese, put it into an airtight or well-covered container and put it into the refrigerator within two hours of it being prepared.
Cooked Mac and Cheese that you want to save for later can also be frozen. For best results, divide leftovers into individual serving sizes and freeze them in ziplocked bags for quick thawing. Whole batches can be stored in the same manner; just allow for more thaw time when you’re ready to eat.
Mac and Cheese can also be stored in an airtight glass or plastic container and then put into the freezer.
How Long Can Mac and Cheese Be Stored?
If you’re wondering about the packaged, uncooked boxed mac and cheese, you have a surprisingly long window of time. Depending on the brand, boxed mac and cheese that has been stored in a cool, dry place can be edible for up to two years past its expiration date!
Once you’ve prepared and cooked the contents of the box, or prepared your homemade batch of Mac and Cheese, you can enjoy it for 3-4 days following your original meal. Be sure you’ve stored it properly in the fridge and remember to do a quick smell test… cheese is quick to tell you if it’s not good!
If you’ve chosen to freeze your Mac and Cheese, and your freezer is kept at a consistent frozen level (under 32˚F or 0˚C), it will remain safe to eat indefinitely. However, the quality of the food’s taste and texture will deteriorate after 1-2 months.
There’s a good reason why Mac and Cheese is a staple and a favorite among all ages and throughout all stages of life. It’s delicious and you can make it in large batches so you can enjoy it again and again!
Do yourself and your future, hungry self a favor: store your Mac and Cheese in a timely and safe manner so you can enjoy a second (or third) time around!