Shelf Life Tips
- How long does cooked beef stew last in the fridge or freezer? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate beef stew within two hours of cooking.
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To maximize the shelf life of cooked beef stew for safety and quality, refrigerate the beef stew promptly in covered airtight containers.
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Properly stored, cooked beef stew will last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
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To further extend the shelf life of cooked beef stew, freeze it; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long does cooked beef stew last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 to 6 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked beef stew that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does cooked beef stew last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked beef stew that has been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; beef stew that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How long can cooked beef stew be safely left out at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked beef stew should be discarded if left for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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How to tell if cooked beef stew is bad? If cooked beef stew develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
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