Shelf Life Tips
- How long does cooked winter squash last in the fridge or freezer? The exact answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate winter squash within two hours of cooking.
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To maximize the shelf life of cooked winter squash for safety and quality, refrigerate the winter squash in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.
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Properly stored, cooked winter squash will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
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How long can cooked winter squash be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked winter squash should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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To further extend the shelf life of cooked winter squash, freeze it; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long does cooked winter squash last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked winter squash that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does cooked winter squash last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked winter squash that has been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; winter squash that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How to tell if cooked winter squash is bad? The best way is to smell and look at the winter squash: discard any that has an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
