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