Almost everyone enjoys the traditional dinner or side dish macaroni and cheese. It is quite easy to make and has a ton of cheese flavor. You’ll undoubtedly have some macaroni and cheese leftover after making it; you could leave it out on the counter while you eat what is on your plate, but this may not be the best idea.
How long can mac and cheese be refrigerated? Pasta and cheese shouldn’t be exposed to the elements for more than two hours. It’s possible for germs to develop more quickly after two hours, which could lead to food spoilage and make it unhealthy for you to eat. Continue reading to learn more about storing macaroni and cheese in the fridge or leaving it out to ensure its best, safest preservation!
How Long Can Macaroni And Cheese Sit Out At Room Temperature?
When it comes to how long it can be kept out at room temperature, macaroni and cheese must be handled in the same way as almost all other foods. There is a valid reason for the rule that macaroni and cheese shouldn’t be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Food is in danger between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Bacteria thrive in this temperature range, and the longer food is left out at this temperature, the greater the risk of bacterial development.
If macaroni and cheese is left out at room temperature for more than two hours, bacterial growth will accelerate, increasing the risk that eating the macaroni and cheese can make you sick from food poisoning. When the macaroni and cheese is finished cooking, set it aside to cool on the counter, but put it in the refrigerator within two hours.
How Long Can Macaroni And Cheese Be Kept In The Fridge?
Because refrigerator temperatures should not go into the danger zone for food bacteria growth, you can store macaroni and cheese in the fridge for far longer than you would be able to leave out at room temperature. Macaroni and cheese can be stored in the fridge for up to four days if properly packed in an airtight container. However, it is critical to store the macaroni and cheese within two hours of cooking so that it does not remain at room temperature for too long.
How Long Can Macaroni And Cheese Sit Out At Warmer Temperatures?
You could be concerned about letting your macaroni and cheese rest for too long at warmer temperatures if it’s a very hot day or if you are cooking outside and using a picnic table. The general rule is to keep food refrigerated for no more than two hours, but if it’s unusually warm outside, you should stow the macaroni and cheese away as soon as you can. It is not advisable to leave macaroni outside for more than an hour in warm weather.
Try to just serve what you need before putting the macaroni and cheese in a refrigerator-safe container to preserve it. Since germs grow more quickly in warm environments, leaving macaroni and cheese out in those conditions for longer increases the chance of contracting a foodborne illness.
How Long Can Macaroni And Cheese Be Frozen For?
If you want to keep leftover macaroni and cheese for more than a few days, the fridge is not the best option. You can freeze the macaroni and cheese to keep it for longer. Macaroni and cheese freezes well if it is placed in a freezer container that will prevent it from freezer burn. This could be a resealable plastic freezer bag or an airtight freezer container.
Macaroni and cheese should be used within two months of being frozen. It should still be safe to use after two months in the freezer, but the quality may begin to deteriorate and the taste and texture may be less satisfactory. To aid in this, label the freezer bag or container with the date of freezing so that you can utilize it within the suggested time frame.
How To Tell If Macaroni And Cheese Has Gone Bad
It is worth searching for certain signals that macaroni and cheese is still safe to eat if you have left it out too long or if it has been in the fridge for a few days. To ensure you are eating food that is still safe to eat, there are some indications to look for to determine whether macaroni and cheese has ruined. Here are several indicators that your macaroni and cheese is terrible.
Odor
The fragrance of macaroni and cheese should be wonderful and cheesy. If you discover anything odd or rancid, or even a sour odor, throw it out. This indicates that the dairy in the macaroni and cheese has begun to spoil and that the dish is no longer safe to eat.
Discoloration
Fresh macaroni and cheese shouldn’t have any stains. The macaroni and cheese may develop a very light shade of gray or even start to turn green as it begins to spoil. This involves checking for mold on the macaroni and cheese; it may show up as fuzzy growths or as white and green spots. It is impossible to just clip the moldy chunks away; they are a blatant indication that the macaroni and cheese has gone bad.
Taste
Tasting macaroni and cheese that you believe has gone bad is not a good idea, but if there are no other indicators of spoilage, tasting may be the only way to find out. The taste of macaroni and cheese should be cheesy and creamy — if it does not taste this way, or if it has lumps and an unusual flavor, you should stop eating it and throw it away.
How Long Can Thawed Macaroni And Cheese Be Kept In the Fridge?
You may extend the freshness of macaroni and cheese by freezing it, but you must be cautious about how long you store it in the refrigerator after it has thawed. After being frozen and thawed, macaroni and cheese can be stored for up to three days in the refrigerator. The macaroni and cheese must first safely thaw in the refrigerator rather than being allowed to do so at room temperature.
Once the macaroni and cheese has thawed, if you reheat it, you should consume it right away. Reheated macaroni and cheese shouldn’t be refrigerated after being defrosted since the risk of bacterial development is too high. To be safe, reheat only what you require rather than heating everything and storing leftovers in the refrigerator.
Final Thoughts
It’s pointless to spend time and effort creating macaroni and cheese just to have it spoil after sitting out at room temperature for too long. The general guideline is that macaroni and cheese should not be left out for more than two hours at room temperature, and if the temperature is exceptionally warm, it should not be left out for more than an hour. Keep macaroni and cheese in a suitable container in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to two months to keep it fresher for longer. Before eating macaroni and cheese, check for any evidence that it has spoilt.
Related Questions
Here are some more questions we thought you might have now that you know all about how long macaroni and cheese can be kept at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer, as well as symptoms of spoilage.
Can you eat macaroni and cheese if it has been left out overnight?
Macaroni and cheese should not be eaten if it has been left out overnight. The reason for this is that it would have been left in the temperature danger zone for much too long, increasing the risk of bacteria development and making you sick if you ate it.
Can I put warm macaroni and cheese in the fridge?
Warm macaroni and cheese shouldn’t be stored in the fridge. Warm macaroni and cheese could raise the refrigerator’s internal temperature and endanger other food contents. You must exercise caution when leaving macaroni and cheese out at room temperature for more than two hours; you should wait until it reaches room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator.