Shelf Life Tips
- How long does cooked macaroni and cheese last in the fridge or freezer? The precise answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate macaroni and cheese within two hours of cooking.
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To maximize the shelf life of cooked macaroni and cheese for safety and quality, refrigerate the macaroni and cheese in shallow airtight containers.
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Properly stored, cooked macaroni and cheese will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
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To further extend the shelf life of cooked macaroni and cheese, freeze it; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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Cooked macaroni and cheese dishes containing sauce freeze best; cooked macaroni noodles frozen without sauce may become overly mushy when thawed.
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How long does cooked macaroni and cheese last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 1 to 2 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked macaroni and cheese that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does cooked macaroni and cheese last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked macaroni and cheese that has been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; macaroni and cheese that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How long does cooked macaroni and cheese last at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked macaroni and cheese should be discarded if left for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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How to tell if cooked macaroni and cheese is bad? If cooked macaroni and cheese develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
