How Long Do Leftovers Last?

By Peggy Woodward, RDN and Nicole Doster

Updated: Jan. 12, 2023

Joe Belanger/Shutterstock

Wondering how long cooked chicken lasts in the fridge? Or a leftover slice of pizza? Food expert Peggy Woodward lets us know just how long foods keep in the fridge. (You might want to print this out.)

Where would life be without leftovers? Whether you’ve ordered too much take-out, or the gang couldn’t polish off that hearty 13×9 casserole, some foods just warrant a surplus. Which is great because leftovers can make the best next-day meals, and they’re handy for meal planners everywhere. But sometimes that several-days-old dish can look a little questionable after sitting in the back of the fridge. The question arises: How long do leftovers actually last? Food editor and resident leftover expert Peggy Woodward shares her best practices:

If you’re looking for creative ways to use up leftovers, try these tasty ideas.

Refrigerator Storage

The following foods will keep only 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator:

Fresh (raw) ground meats and stew meats
Gravy and meat broth
Fresh poultry and fresh fish
Shrimp, scallops, crayfish and squid
Shucked clams, mussels and oysters

The following foods will keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator:

Fully cooked ham slices
Cooked meat and meat casseroles
Cooked chicken and chicken casseroles (Learn more about how to tell if chicken is bad)
Pizza
Cooked fish and shellfish

The following items will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator:

Opened packages of lunch or deli meats
Fully cooked ham portions
Fresh meat steaks, chops and roasts

The following foods have longer refrigerator storage times as indicated:

Fresh eggs in shells = 3 to 5 weeks
Hard-cooked eggs = 1 week
Commercial mayonnaise after opening = 2 months
Opened hard cheese (such as cheddar or Swiss) = 3 to 4 weeks
Soft cheese (such as brie or feta), cottage cheese, ricotta and milk = 1 week
Yogurt = 7 to 14 days

Wondering how long produce lasts? Find our comprehensive chart here.

3 Rules of Thumb for All Foods:

When in Doubt, Throw it Out

If you lose track of how long a food has been in the refrigerator, it’s best to not risk eating it. Simply throw the food away. To avoid this problem in the future, label and date your leftovers before refrigerating. And to produce even less food waste, check out the food scraps you didn’t know you could eat.

Store Food Wisely

For best storage, it’s wise to divvy up hot leftovers into smaller portions, then place in shallow dishes to cool quickly. Wait until steam has stopped rising from the food before chilling, so the steam won’t heat up your fridge. Remember to choose strong food-storage containers that are clean and in good condition. And opt for covered containers—they’re always a better choice than uncovered bowls. Never store food in the can it came in.

Don’t Leave Dishes At Room Temperature

Food that’s sat out on the counter for too long can start growing harmful bacteria, so fridge or freeze as soon as you can. We recommend a two-hour window. Try to get food in the refrigerator within two hours after it’s cooked (or sooner if it’s cooled enough). If food has been left out for longer than that, it may be unsafe to eat. Err on the safe side and toss. Next, check out these other food safety mistakes you could be making.

Tips For Using Up Your Leftovers

To make sure your food doesn’t go to waste, get creative! Leftover meat can be added to a simple soup or be combined with eggs into a flaky quiche or frittata. If you have a small amount of leftover cooked vegetables, put an egg on top and enjoy the dish for supper. Leftover grains make tasty fried rice. Fruits can go into a fruit salad, chopped vegetables into a stir-fry. Many holiday foods have ample leftover uses, too. Check out our creative ways to use up mashed potatoes for inspiration.

These are our favorite ways to use leftover chicken.

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Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Exps Dia18 33124 B05 25 2b 6

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Creamy Chicken EnchiladasOne of our most popular chicken dinners ever, these creamy enchiladas are easy to make at home. Layer a 13x9-inch pan with tortillas stuffed with leftover chicken, cream cheese and spices, then pour over a quick enchilada sauce. Feel free to add or subtract chiles, or vegetables like chopped peppers or corn.