If you throw a massive party and look over the piles of leftover food after everyone leaves, you might wonder how you will ever eat it all. Perhaps you pull out the plastic wrap and start putting all your food in the fridge for another day. But what if you find a few days later that there’s no way you’ll get through it all, what can you do?
You can freeze most foods that have been in the refrigerator. However, you will need to be careful about freezing your food after it’s been in the fridge for more than seven days. Always ensure proper food handling and cover it to avoid bacteria and fungal contamination.
If you want to avoid food poisoning, save food waste, and have an easy meal for later, we will help you! We have all the answers about how to store it properly and how to prevent food poisoning! Keep reading to know all about proper food handling from fridge to freezer.
How Many Days Can Food Be Kept In the Fridge Before Freezing?
You should not freeze any food left in the fridge for more than seven days. According to the FDA, foods are more likely to have high levels of bacteria when left in the fridge for more than seven days. This makes them more likely to cause food poisoning, even if they are frozen.
The seven-day rule is only a general guideline for determining if foods in the fridge are safe for consumption. Many foods are only safe to consume after 2-5 days of being in the refrigerator. These foods include:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Restaurant foods (prepared foods)
- Dairy
The shelf life of meat in the refrigerator varies significantly depending on the type of meat and how it’s prepared. Fish has a short shelf life and should be eaten or frozen within two days of being in the fridge.
Beef can last up to seven days if it is processed meat. This includes beef sausage, burgers, and other ground varieties. However, most steaks and other cuts of meat only last up to 4-5 days.
Similarly, processed chicken and turkey have a much longer shelf life than fresh chicken. If you have fried chicken in the fridge, try to freeze it within 4-5 days.
All raw meats should be handled carefully and frozen within three days. This will prevent cross-contamination and reduce the risk of bacterial infection. The more temperature variations your meat experiences, the more likely it is to grow bacteria. Therefore, get raw meat into the freezer as soon as possible.
Dairy products such as milk or half and half can last up to a week after opening. Other products, such as yogurt, can potentially last longer, but you should be careful about using it after seven days if it’s opened. This is because there is a higher chance of cross-contamination.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can last longer than seven days, but they may not have the same quality. The longer vegetables and fruits sit in the fridge, the more likely they are the grow mold and decay. Cut fruits have a shorter lifespan and may only last up to five days after being cut.
How Long Will the Frozen Food Last When Thawed?
Frozen food can last 3-5 days in the fridge after being thawed. This varies somewhat between food varieties, but most foods can be safely refrozen after thawing. However, you avoid thawing foods and refreezing them more than twice to avoid bacterial development.
Certain foods are safer to refreeze after thawing than others. The safest foods to refreeze after thawing include:
- Frozen peas
- Frozen carrots
- Frozen green beans
- Frozen cooked meat
- Frozen dinners
The reason these foods are safer than other varieties is because of the potential for bacterial contamination. Cooked foods like chicken nuggets or fish sticks are less likely to have bacteria than raw, uncooked meats.
Frozen vegetables such as carrots and peas have a strong structural base. This means they are less likely to become mushy and unpleasant after they are thawed than other, less structurally sound vegetables.
Although vegetables such as kale, collards, and asparagus are safe to consume, they will be unpleasant. Since these vegetables are not structurally strong, they tend to become mushy the longer they are in the fridge. This means that if you thaw and refreeze them, they may become indistinct blobs.
Uncooked, raw meats are more complicated. Raw chicken, beef, and other meats carry a high risk of contamination due to shifting temperatures. Therefore, you should only keep raw, thawed meats in the fridge for up to 2 days.
If you do not use this meat, you should only refreeze it once. The more you thaw and refreeze raw meat, the more likely it is to grow bacteria and cause food poisoning.
Can You Put Hot Food In the Freezer?
You should avoid putting hot foods in the freezer. Although it is usually harmless, it can impact the quality of your food and cost you money in electricity. The best way to freeze hot foods is to allow them one hour to cool off before freezing them.
There are several ways hot foods can negatively impact your freezer. These include:
- Wasted power
- Potentially lower the internal temperature
- Stimulate the growth of bacteria
- Cause food to grow soggy
- Ice crystals growing in your food
Although putting hot foods in your freezer is unlikely to damage it, it can make it overwork. Hot foods can raise the internal temperature in the freezer, leading to the cooling system kicking on and working to remove the heat.
Additionally, hot foods release moisture, which can cause ice build-up in the freezer. Even though this ice build-up is usually harmless, it can take up a lot of your freezer space and block vents.
However, hot foods in the freezer can also impact the quality of the food itself. It can lead to moisture build-up inside of the storage container and impact the taste and quality of the food inside. Not only does it create ice crystals which can make your food taste watery, but it can also make your food become soggy.
Last, putting hot food in your freezer can lower the internal temperature of your freezer. This can cause other foods close to the hot food to thaw and thus grow bacteria. You want to keep the internal temperature as regular as possible, and adding hot foods can negatively impact your food.
How Should You Freeze Leftovers?
You should freeze leftovers after allowing them time to cool or straight from the refrigerator. Make sure to freezer them in freezer-safe containers to prevent freezer burn. Always properly seal or cover to avoid cross-contamination or bacterial contamination.
The table below breaks down different types of leftovers and how we recommend storing them in the freezer:
| Type of Leftover | Storage container | Time frame for Freshness |
| Chicken | Freezer safe bag, freezer safe plastic container, Freezer safe glass container | 6 months-2 years |
| Beef | Ground beef should be stored in a plastic bag Steak should be stored in a vacuum-sealed bag, or glass container | 6 months-3 years |
| Pork | Fried pork should be stored in a freezer-safe plastic or glass container Sausage can be stored in individual freezer-safe bags | 6 months-3 years |
| Fish | Fish sticks and fried fish should be stored in a freezer-safe bag. Leftover grilled fish or fish steaks should be stored in glass containers. Avoid plastic containers due to the strong scent | 6 months-1 year |
| Soups | Cooled-off soup can be stored in freezer-safe plastic bags. Fill the bags up and lay them flat on the freezer shelf so they lay flat and take up less space. You can use glass and plastic, but it’s not an efficient use of space | 6 months-3 years |
| Beverages | Non-carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages can be stored in freezer-safe plastic bags similar to soups You can use glass and plastic, but it’s not an efficient use of space | 6 months-1 year |
| Pasta | Spaghetti can be frozen in plastic bags, but we do not recommend it. Spaghetti does not have a strong structure and becomes unpleasant and grainy in the freezer. Lasagna and ziti store really well in the freezer. We do not recommend bags due to all the sauce and cheese. Plastic containers can be used, but may be damaged by the sauce. Glass containers are the best option. | 6 months-2 years |
| Rice | Rice can be stored in freezer-safe plastic bags. However, rice might become slightly unpleasant and grainy when in the freezer. It is safe to eat, though. | 6 months-1 year |
| Vegetables | Vegetables store best in plastic bags and plastic containers. However, you can use glass and plastic containers as well. Plastic bags are preferable because you can make single-use packages and waste less space in the freezer. | 6 months-3 years |
How Fast Does Food Go Bad In the Fridge?
Most foods will go bad within four to five days in the refrigerator. However, they can last up to seven days if properly stored and handled before being refrigerated. This includes proper hand washing and ensuring they are in properly sealed containers.
Vegetables and fruits have the longest shelf life in the refrigerator. Uncut fruit and vegetables can last up to fourteen days when properly stored and kept at a proper temperature. Cut fruits and vegetables last up to seven days before they start to turn brown and lose integrity.
Meats should only be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2-5 days. Precooked meats can last up to seven days, but you should be careful and ensure they were properly covered and kept between 32-35 degrees Fahrenheit (0-2 degrees Celsius).
If you feel like you won’t eat your food within three days, your best bet is to freeze it. Not only will you prevent food poisoning, but you will be able to keep it safely for several months or even years!