How long do dinners last?
In the fridge, dinners keep for 2 days after opening. Once opened, use it within 2 days.
No guideline
2 days
after opening
2 days
in the fridge unless noted
Do dinners go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, dinners 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 dinners compare with other baby food
USDA FoodKeeper gives dinners one time: 2 days in the fridge after opening, 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 dinners in baby food show the range for the group:
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereal, dry mixes | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
| Formula | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
| Fruit | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
| Jars or pouches | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
| Liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
| Vegetables(first of 2 kinds) | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | 10 to 18 months |
About baby food. Baby food spoils quickly once opened because it lacks the preservatives found in many packaged foods, and jars or pouches should be treated as fresh food, not shelf stable. Unopened jars and pouches keep well until their date, but opened baby food needs prompt refrigeration and quick use. All baby food.
How to tell dinners have gone bad
General signs for baby food, the group USDA lists dinners under.
- Lid pops or bulges when you open the jar
- Sour or off smell instead of the usual mild scent
- Colour looks darker or duller than a fresh jar
- Watery separation that will not stir back together
- Mould spots on the surface or under the lid
More on baby food. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other baby food last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.