How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
Short answer: Most cooked leftovers, including meat, chicken, pizza, soup and casseroles, keep 3–4 days in the fridge. Freeze them within that window if you won't eat them in time.
Leftovers: fridge and freezer times
| Food | Fridge (40°F / 4°C) | Freezer (0°F / −18°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked meat or poultry | 3–4 days | 2–6 months |
| Pizza | 3–4 days | 1–2 months |
| Soups and stews with vegetables or meat | 3–4 days | 2–3 months |
| Casseroles with eggs, after baking | 3–4 days | 2–3 months |
The fridge times are for safety: once they pass, throw it out. The freezer times are for best quality. Food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe indefinitely but slowly loses flavor and texture.
How to use it before it goes bad
- Keep the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder. The times above assume it. A cheap fridge thermometer tells you for sure.
- Freeze on day one, not on the last day. If you won't eat it within the fridge time, freeze it as soon as you get home.
- Write the date on it. It's easy to lose count of how long something has been open.
- Put it where you'll see it. Food at the back of the fridge is the food that gets forgotten.
Common questions
How long do leftovers last in the fridge?
Most cooked leftovers, including meat, chicken, pizza, soup and casseroles, keep 3–4 days in the fridge. Freeze them within that window if you won't eat them in time.
How long do leftovers last in the freezer?
Frozen at 0°F (−18°C), leftovers stays safe indefinitely. For best quality, use it within: cooked meat or poultry: 2–6 months; pizza: 1–2 months; soups and stews with vegetables or meat: 2–3 months; casseroles with eggs, after baking: 2–3 months.
Can leftovers sit out at room temperature?
Perishable food shouldn't sit out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it's above 90°F (32°C). After that, throw it out.
How long other foods last
Source: FoodSafety.gov, Cold Food Storage Chart. This page is general information, not medical advice. When in doubt, throw it out.