How to store cooked pasta

How to tell cooked pasta has gone bad

• Cooked pasta is a leftover: 3 to 5 days in the fridge by the USDA FoodKeeper table, 3 to 4 days by the general FSIS rule for cooked food. After that the risk rises even when it looks and smells fine.
• Mould on cooked pasta or a pasta dish means the whole container goes out. USDA lists cooked grains and pasta among the foods that cannot be trimmed.
• A slimy surface or a sour smell means spoilage bacteria have grown. Throw it out.
• Reheat to 165 F (74 C). Pasta with sauce, meat or cream follows the same rule as the plain pasta.

Sources: Leftovers and Food Safety (USDA FSIS); Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Refrigerate deli and prepared foods within two hours of purchase or cooking, in shallow covered containers for faster cooling. Use most within three to four days, and reheat leftovers until steaming hot before eating. Freeze portions you will not finish in time, and label them clearly with the date.