The party was a success and your guests of all ages raved about the mozzarella sticks. So crispy! So gooey! As usual, however, your enthusiastic host-mode kicked in and you overdid it.
Fear not, we’ll ensure that your hard work paid off, and give you a few key pointers on safety and storage so that nothing goes to waste.
Do not consume mozzarella sticks that have been left out overnight. According to the USDA’s safety guidelines for perishable food items, bacteria will begin to form on cheese after approximately two hours when stored at room temperature. If it is over 90 degrees, limit room temperature exposure to one hour or less.
Timely and proper storage along with some simple reheating tips are all you need to make sure that your leftovers can be enjoyed in the days and weeks to come.
Follow the guidelines below and you’ll be convinced that making too many mozzarella sticks for a party is one of the best “mistakes” a host can make!
How Long Can Mozzarella Sticks Sit At Room Temperature?
Put mozzarella sticks in cold storage within two hours. Be aware here of your local room temperature: if it is 90° or warmer, move sticks to cold storage within the hour. As noted, certainly don’t leave them out overnight.
Don’t forget about the sticks’ sidekick, the dipping sauce! If you’ve opted for a dairy-based sauce, the same rules apply: two hours max before getting it into cold storage. If you’ve made a tomato-based dipping sauce, it can be left at room temperature overnight.
What Happens If You Eat Mozzarella Sticks That Have Gone Bad?
If you choose to take the risk and eat the leftover mozzarella sticks even though they were left out too long (it’s so tempting—they were so good!), be prepared for some unpleasant consequences.
Food poisoning from rancid dairy products can most commonly cause severe stomach cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. Other more rare symptoms may include headache or a fever.
How Can You Tell If Mozzarella Sticks Have Gone Bad?
If you’re unsure of how long they’ve been out or if you’re concerned because it’s a warmer day, the test is pretty simple.
Mozzarella is a mild cheese without a strong odor when it is in top form, so a simple smell test will let you know pretty quickly if the food is safe to consume. A pungent, sour smell is all the warning you need to stay away.
Of course, any indication of mold or discoloration is another good indicator that the cheese is past its prime, and a general rule of thumb is that it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to food safety.
How Should Mozzarella Sticks Be Stored?
If you are prompt in your clean-up, you can store mozzarella sticks so that they make great leftovers in the days and weeks to come. If you plan to eat them within the week, allow them to fully cool, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Note: Be sure to allow the sticks to fully cool, as placing warm mozzarella sticks in a closed container will cause condensation inside the container and make the sticks soggy.
If you’d rather not eat them for some time (maybe you had your fill at the party tonight and know you’ll enjoy them more after some time has passed), mozzarella is a cheese that freezes very well.
Place the sticks on a cookie sheet or a tray that allows you to spread them out and place the tray in the freezer. Once the sticks are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag.
This extra step is important because it prevents the sticks from freezing together and forming a cluster of frozen sticks– which makes the reheating methods described below challenging.
To prevent freezer burn, press all the air out of the bag before sealing. Vacuum sealing is always best, but if that’s not possible, just take care to release all the air from a resealable freezer bag.
Get the dipping sauces you made into cold storage as well: you will thank yourself come leftover time. Tomato-based and cream-based sauces can be refrigerated or frozen using plastic or glass containers.
How Long Do Mozzarella Sticks Last?
If you choose to refrigerate your leftover sticks and you’ve ensured airtight storage, your mozzarella sticks will last up to a week. In the freezer, they can be stored safely for up to 4-6 months.
Your dipping sauces will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and 4-6 months in the freezer.
Can You Reheat Mozzarella Sticks?
If you’ve stored them on time and properly, your reward is a great discovery in your fridge or freezer when looking for some leftovers for a side dish or snack! Reheated mozzarella sticks can be just as delicious and crispy as the freshly made ones if you follow a few simple reheating guidelines.
To reheat, you can use an air fryer, oven, toaster oven, skillet, or–as a last resort–a microwave.
If you have invested in the air fryer, you know that reheating leftovers is one of its greatest perks—and mozzarella sticks are a great example of this. Reheating mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the best way to recreate the “crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside” experience.
Preheat the air fryer to 375° (190°C). We suggest lightly coating the mozzarella sticks in oil, but this is optional. It’s possible that they are still slightly coated from their original frying, making this re-application of oil unnecessary.
Place the sticks in the fryer basket in a single layer, taking care that they have space between them for air to circulate. This helps ensure that they reheat evenly on all sides.
If the sticks have been refrigerated, reheat them in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes. If they are frozen, reheat for 8-10 minutes. Use your judgment here if the sticks are larger or smaller than average—and adjust the time in the fryer accordingly.
If you don’t have an air fryer, a toaster oven or oven is your next best bet. A toaster oven will be more efficient, but the directions are the same for both.
Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 400° (200° C) for refrigerated sticks, or 450° (230°C) for frozen sticks. Again, a light coating of oil is helpful for re-crisping but totally optional.
Place the sticks on a wire rack to allow for air circulation and even reheating. If you are using a solid tray, be sure to turn the sticks over halfway through the reheating time. This ensures even reheating and prevents burning of the outer layer while the cheesy middle has a chance to melt.
Reheat refrigerated sticks for 8-10 minutes; frozen sticks for 15-20 minutes.
Check-in during the reheating process. Signs of melting cheese is a good indication that they are ready to take out of the oven and enjoy!
A final good option would be to reheat the sticks in a skillet on the stovetop. Lightly oil the pan and heat over medium heat until the oil shimmers. Shimmering oil indicates that your oil is hot and ready for your leftovers. Add the sticks and fry for 4-6 minutes, turning them over frequently.
If you simply cannot wait another moment for your mozzarella sticks and scrolled here to find the microwave option, it is possible. Fair warning, however, that this is the least desirable option as it is difficult to recreate that crispy outer layer when using a microwave.
Place your sticks in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Reheat using 15-second intervals, turning the sticks over between each interval. Thirty seconds should fully heat refrigerated sticks through and create the gooey insides.
If you are working with frozen sticks, a few more 15-second intervals will be necessary. To recreate the crispiness, you can broil the sticks in the oven at high heat for 15-20 seconds.
Remove the sticks and set them on a paper towel for 60 seconds before serving. The microwave reheating method will make the cheese extremely hot, so use caution when biting into the reheated sticks.
One of the best things about being an enthusiastic host who always prepares for twice the amount of guests(!) is that leftovers are guaranteed. That means less food prep and cooking in the coming week which is a great by-product of a fabulous party.
Be sure to store your mozzarella sticks safely and reheat them properly so the gift of good food can keep on giving!