With so much love for pizza, it is common to order it in large sizes, but despite the heroic attempt to finish all at once, we often have some leftovers. You may wonder if you can store them in the fridge.
But how long does pizza last in the fridge? Considering the packaging, whether in a ziplock or airtight container, according to The USDA Food Safety Guide, pizza is safe to store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Some visible signs can help determine if pizza is still edible after storing it in the fridge. However, pizza at room temperature will go bad if you keep it there longer than 2 hours. In this post, we have shared some essential tips for storing pizza in the fridge to make it last longer without going bad. Read out to learn more.
How Long Does Pizza Last In The Fridge?
Whether it is pork chops, pizza slices, or pasta, there are some rules to keep them edible after cooking and storing for a sufficient period to prevent bacteria or mold from sabotaging them. However, the United States Department of Agriculture advises in a food safety guide to store pizza in the fridge for up to four days.
You may store your leftover pizza slices for a few more days, but the consequences will be harsh, leading to foodborne illness. If you leave the pizza at room temperature at 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more, your pizza will grow bacteria like Escherichia Coli or Salmonella.
Note: Pizza or other foods get into a temperature danger zone if you leave them longer without storing them properly. This causes food to go bad, which can lead to food poisoning.
How to Store Leftover Pizza In The Fridge Properly?
For storing pizza in the fridge, wrap the leftovers or whole pizza in plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container. It is not recommended to use aluminum foil due to its reactive nature with tomato sauce and other pizza ingredients.
Here are the following storage ideas that can help keep pizza safe to eat:
Keep Pizza In Cardboard
If you want to eat your leftover pizza slices the next morning, you can leave them in a cardboard box to store in the fridge.
However, if you want to store it for longer, it is better to use an airtight container to prevent the pizza from drying.
Use Any Food Container
You do not need special boxes or containers to store pizza, as any food container can be useful. Take any shallow plate and cover it with a plastic lid.
Even the cake carriers are good for keeping pizza sealed tight in the fridge.
Storing Pizza In The Freezer
Freezing pizza isn’t as simple as you put it in the fridge. You can do it by using aluminum foil or freezer bags only.
- Take aluminum foil to wrap around each pizza slice.
- If you want to freeze pizza for a few weeks, put the wrapped slices in freezer bags.
- In case of the unavailability of freezer bags, you can also use an airtight container to prevent the pizza from squishing.
- Now your pizza is airtight, put it in the freezer.
Note: It is not good to reheat a frozen pizza; you can leave it in the fridge to defrost and then reheat it to preserve its quality taste.
How Can You Tell If Pizza Is Bad?
It is common for pizza to go bad if you don’t store it properly or keep it for longer in the fridge. However, you may not want to eat pizza, which can cause health issues. Therefore, you must look at some signs to determine if you are concerned about your leftover pizza.
Mold Growth
Can you eat moldy pizza? Of course not; just throw it in the trash box immediately. Also, ensure your other food items are safe from getting in contact with that pizza. Mold can quickly grow and spread, making your food completely unhealthy.
Nasty Smell
If your pizza smells rancid, do not eat it. A nasty odor is a clear indication of bad pizza. So, avoid eating pizza that gives off a bad smell.
Slimy Toppings
The toppings on your pizza get slimy if they caught into bacterial growth. You should not eat pizza if the toppings are slimy, as this will cause severe food poisoning.
Unpleasant Taste
Though others are just common signs that can help you know the condition of pizza, you will get final confirmation right after tasting it.
A pizza that has gone bad will taste unpleasant and make you throw up at once. If, after tasting, your taste buds reject the pizza, believe it, your pizza is no more edible.
Is Pizza Good After 5 Days In The Fridge?
According to the USDA, pizza can last in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Right after 4th day, you should avoid eating it for various health reasons. Even if you store it properly, do not eat pizza on the 5th day or afterward.
It won’t just be bad for your taste buds but also cause food poisoning.
How Long Does Pizza Last In The Fridge In The Box?
It is not good to keep pizza longer in the cardboard box due to moisture retained by the box leading to bacterial growth. It is ideal for transferring your pizza slices to a plate if you want to keep it protected from contamination.
However, in the fridge, you can keep the pizza in the box for four days, but it isn’t a better option.
How Long Does Pizza Last In The Fridge Uncovered?
It is not recommended to store pizza in the fridge uncovered. Keeping leftovers in the fridge will cause spoilage.
You can stack the pizza slices on top of each other and put them in a covered or airtight container. Stacking and wrapping up pizza slices is the best way to store them.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, keep the leftover pizza for 3 to 4 days in the fridge inside a sealed container after two hours of receiving it. The storage duration will reduce if your pizza is left on the counter for longer. If you want to store it for longer than 4 days, keep it in the freezer.
Wrap the slices properly before storing them. It is best to put the pizza in the fridge if you have leftovers and want to eat them later without getting sick.
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