How long does coleslaw last?
In the fridge, coleslaw keeps for 3 to 5 days from purchase.
No guideline
3 to 5 days
from purchase
No guideline
Does coleslaw go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, coleslaw may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How coleslaw compares with other deli & prepared foods
USDA FoodKeeper gives coleslaw one time: 3 to 5 days in the fridge from purchase, and no figure for the other places. A blank usually means the food is not stored that way, not that the data is missing. The foods USDA lists next to coleslaw in deli & prepared foods show the range for the group:
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian bacon(first of 2 kinds) | no guideline | 2 weeks | 2 months |
| Casseroles | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | no guideline |
| Chicken(first of 2 kinds) | no guideline | 1 to 2 days | 12 months |
| Chicken salad | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | Not recommended |
| Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners | no guideline | 2 weeks | Not recommended |
| Cooked pasta | no guideline | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
| Cooked rice | no guideline | 4 to 6 days | 6 months |
| Egg salad | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | Not recommended |
| Fruit, cut | no guideline | Use by the package date | Not recommended |
About deli & prepared foods. Deli meats, prepared salads, leftovers and rotisserie chicken are ready to eat, which means any bacteria present can grow without further cooking to stop them. These foods depend heavily on quick refrigeration and short turnaround times to stay safe. All deli & prepared foods.
How to tell coleslaw has gone bad
General signs for deli & prepared foods, the group USDA lists coleslaw under.
- Sour, sulfur-like or generally off smell from ready-to-eat food
- Sliminess on deli meat or a slick film on salad
- Watery separation showing up in mayonnaise-based salads
- Dry, hardened edges on rotisserie chicken left uncovered
- Colour that has dulled or greyed since purchase
More on deli & prepared foods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other deli & prepared foods last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.