How long should I keep cooked meat in the fridge ???

shaddowstorm

Hi,

Just wondering how long does everyone keep cooked chicken/meat or their meal preps in the fridge for ?
I watch meal prep videos and they cook for the entire week without freezing it, I'm not keen eating mine on the 5th day.

Thanks in advance.

Chef_Barbell

4 days max for me.

jennybearlv

The local health department requires restaurants to throw out cooked meat after two days. I'm not a restaurant though so I throw out meat when the texture or smell changes, it starts growing mold, or I can't remember how long it's been in there.

shandy82165

3 days is my max, I can taste a difference after 3 days. It's not that it's gone bad, just that it doesn't taste fresh anymore.

Theo166

When I have lots of cooked leftovers, I try to put what I won't eat in the next 3-4 days in the freezer. The texture and flavor of meat isn't harmed with freezing. Then the leftovers can be spread out over several weeks and I don't get burned out on the same thing.

Geocitiesuser

Just repeating what everyone said, after 3 days put it in the freezer. By the fourth day meat starts getting slimy if it's not properly cured / preserved. This is the general rule for most home cooked foods, meat or veg.

Fat2Fab1988

My max is two or three days.. I'm just really weird about "old" food and I can't eat it if it's been there longer than that.

lexiehtown

Day 4 is my cut off for refrigerated meat

roxidawne

I've been cooking one meal on Monday to take me through Saturday. Is this not good to leave in the fridge that long?

thewindandthework

I go for 5 days without concern assuming it's packaged properly and reheated thoroughly, but I have been accused of having an iron stomach. I definitely go longer than most.

AngryViking1970

Hmmm...3-4 days I'd guess. Leftovers don't really last that long in my house.

Jdismybug1

Theo166 wrote: »

When I have lots of cooked leftovers, I try to put what I won't eat in the next 3-4 days in the freezer. The texture and flavor of meat isn't harmed with freezing. Then the leftovers can be spread out over several weeks and I don't get burned out on the same thing.

I'm going to do this with the chicken I prepped yesterday. I accidentally made way too much.

lilithsrose

I probably wouldn't eat leftovers after the 5th day. That's when things start to get questionable.

abbynormalartist

How to people meal prep lunches for the week? On Sunday I made 5 salads with died chicken and popped them in the fridge... am I going to be a gonner by the end of the week?

sofchak

I am in the "no more than 4 days" camp for the most part - I'll usually cook up a casserole on Sunday night, divide into 4 containers to have dinner Monday - Thursday ready to heat up and eat when I get home.

Of course, all ingredients for a casserole would determine overall lifespan of a dish - some veggies just don't sit well for multiple days in certain combos (thinking cabbage and tomato sauce = slimy mess in my experience).

I've also skipped a meal prepped casserole dinner bec I went out to dinner- therefore eat the last of the casserole on day 5 occasionally. No negative issues with doing that (yet).

The cardinal rule: "if in doubt, throw it out."

_pi3_

3 days .. I tried chicken salad on the 4th once.. you're really chancing it on that 4th day

OhMsDiva

jennybearlv wrote: »

The local health department requires restaurants to throw out cooked meat after two days. I'm not a restaurant though so I throw out meat when the texture or smell changes, it starts growing mold, or I can't remember how long it's been in there.

That is me. I cook meat and veggies on Sunday to last until Friday or Saturday. If it smells okay I eat it. I have not ended up in the hospital yet.

MoveitlikeManda

Im very fussy about food being used and used by dates tbh.

I tend to prep 3 days at a time but often leave the meat out and cook at time of having said meal.

I tend to make a big tub of salad (grated carrot, onion, cucumber, white cabbage and radish) on a Sunday night to eat as and when I want during the week (each item weighed and then I divide by 3 and log over 3 days)
Thats the only thing I will go longer than the 2-3 days with

RogerToo

shaddowstorm wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering how long does everyone keep cooked chicken/meat or their meal preps in the fridge for ?
I watch meal prep videos and they cook for the entire week without freezing it, I'm not keen eating mine on the 5th day.

Thanks in advance.

Hi
I let my nose tell me, generally by day 3 or 4 if I see I won't use it all that day I vacuum seal and freeze it.

I have found that freezing Ham, makes it taste saltier, Why I do not know. And that is despite using the Low Sodium Ham and soaking and rinsing before eating it.

How long You can keep it also depends on the temperature in Your refrigerator as well as where it is stored. The Door shelves being the worst the High shelf being a little warmer than the bottom shelf for example. The closer to freezing You have it set for the longer it will stay fresh.

Bottom line if it does not taste fresh or it smells old, Discard it IMO.

Good Luck
Roger

jennybearlv

roxidawne wrote: »

I've been cooking one meal on Monday to take me through Saturday. Is this not good to leave in the fridge that long?

Buy a thermometer for your fridge and adjust the thermostat to make sure the temperature always stays between 32-40 F. Once I started doing this most of my foods keep for a week no problem.

earlnabby

Plain meat, I will eat for up to 4 days. Stews, soups, chili, etc. I might let go a day or two longer even if they have meat in them.

JeromeBarry1

I lose track of time. I toss it when I see green fuzz.

CattOfTheGarage

Same here, 3-4 days. I'm not that paranoid, I'll happily go by appearance and smell for things like dairy, raw meat, raw veg etc, but cooked meat can go bad with no obvious signs. If I'm keeping leftover cooked meat for later recipes, I immerse it in stock or brine and freeze it in portions of about a cup.

Personally I wouldn't make up a salad days ahead because the leaves will tend to wilt, and I don't like that.