How long does cooked pasta last?
In the fridge, cooked pasta keeps for 3 to 5 days from purchase.
No guideline
3 to 5 days
from purchase
No guideline
Does cooked pasta go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, cooked pasta 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 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.
How long do other deli & prepared foods last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.