Have you ever looked at your leftover pizza late at night and wondered how long it keeps in the fridge? We’ll tell you whether it’s safe to eat the takeout.
Pizza is one of those foods that we tend to overorder, especially when everyone wants a different topping and we wind up with multiple separate pizzas. You may be wondering how long pizza lasts in the fridge.
Even though we try hard to eat them all in one sitting, we often have a lot of pizza left over in the fridge. But how long can it be consumed?
How long is pizza good for in the fridge?
When wondering how long you can safely store pizza in the fridge, the most crucial factor to consider before eating leftover pizza is how quickly it went into the fridge once it came down to room temperature.
For leftover pizza to be safe to reheat, it must be put in the fridge within 2 hours of being delivered (or made, if it was made at home).
The Source: How To Reheat Pizza In the Oven
Don’t put your fresh pizza in the box for hours before opting to save it for another day. Toss it instead, as the shelf life of pizza isn’t very long if it’s been left out.
Assuming your pizza was refrigerated during that period, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
Any longer than that, you risk bacterial growth, which can lead to food poisoning.
This basic rule of thumb applies to most cooked or perishable items, like pizza leftovers, to avoid getting sick from bacteria that might be on them.
If your pizza is topped with something perishable—various toppings, such as shrimp, are more likely to grow hazardous bacteria—we recommend eating the leftovers the next day or within 24 hours, just to be safe.
Leftover pizza usually lasts a couple of days, but after that, it’s best to throw it out, especially if you notice a rotten stench, which is one of the first indicators of poor pizza.
Do you want to keep your pizza fresh for longer?
The same rules apply whether you bought your pizza from a takeout place or made it at home with fresh, chewy dough. Most of the time, pizza should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours after it has been baked. This is because bacteria grow while the pizza cools between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
The longer pizza is left at room temperature, the more quickly the bacteria that causes food poisoning spreads.
Even though it’s easy to forget about the leftover pizza while watching a movie, it’s best to put leftovers in the fridge as soon as possible to keep them from going bad.
Is pizza in the fridge?
If you have leftover pizza, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and put it on a platter in an airtight container to keep it fresh in the fridge. Leftover pizza can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days if properly chilled within the 2-hour time range, according to the USDA’s food safety guide.
How should leftover pizza be reheated?
Now that you’ve carefully stowed your leftover pizza slices, you’re probably wondering how to reheat them. To create the same texture and flavor, you can use a toaster oven, an air fryer, a regular oven, or a heavy-bottomed pan instead of a microwave.
How Long Can Pizza Be Left Out Of The Fridge?
Pizza is generally deemed safe at room temperature for up to two hours. So, it’s best to eat it as soon as possible to make sure it’s still fresh and has the best taste and texture.
Bacteria can begin to grow on the pizza after two hours, causing food illness if swallowed.
Keep the pizza at a safe temperature between 140 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit to stop dangerous bacteria from growing on it. Don’t take the pizza out of the fridge and leave it out for a long time.
Reheating frosted pizza?
Preheating an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) or using a toaster oven and putting the slices of pizza on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray is the simplest way to reheat leftover refrigerated pizza slices.
Because the pizza has already been made, it only has to be reheated for 10–15 minutes until hot.
An air fryer is the quickest way to reheat pizza in 3–6 minutes. Just put the pizza slices in the air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper and heat it to 360°F. It will heat up quickly, so check it after 4 minutes to see if it’s hot.
The final way is to reheat pizza in a skillet. Prepare a skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil and add the slices for 3 minutes to crust the bottom. Next, turn the heat down to medium and cover the pan for 10 minutes to heat the toppings all the way through.
How Should Frozen Pizza Be Reheated?
It’s not enough to know how long your pizza will last in the fridge; it’s also important to know how to reheat it properly. Incorrectly reheating pizza might result in a soggy, unappealing mess. It’s preferable to reheat your pizza in the oven to avoid this.
In the oven:
Preheat the oven to 400°F and arrange the pizza on a baking pan.
Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the pizza is hot and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
You may also reheat your pizza in a toaster oven, but keep an eye on it to avoid burning it.
On the skillet:
A skillet is another option for warming your pizza.
Heat the pizza in a skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until hot and the cheese has melted.
- Make sure to rotate the pizza once or twice to achieve even heating.
How Can You Tell If Your Pizza Is Bad?
There are a few telltale signs you may check for to see if your pizza is still edible. First, examine the pizza’s appearance. If it has mold growing on it, it should be discarded right away. Mold can be hazardous to one’s health if consumed.
After that, take a whiff of the pizza. If it has a strong, sour smell, it has most certainly gone bad and should be discarded. Pizza with a faint, pleasant fragrance is still edible.
Finally, take a bite of the pizza. If it tastes sour or odd, it’s usually time to throw it out. Pizza that is still edible will have a flavorful, fresh flavor.
FAQs: How long is pizza good for in the fridge?
Can I eat a two-day-old pizza that has been sitting in the fridge?
According to the USDA, if your pizza is refrigerated at a temperature less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be eaten for up to four days.
Can leftover pizza be eaten after 5 days?
No, according to USDA rules, you shouldn’t eat refrigerated pizza that has been left over for more than four days, even if it has been stored properly. Even if you could, the 5-day-old pizza would be disgusting at this point.
Is it safe to consume leftover pizza after 7 days?
No, you shouldn’t eat leftover pizza that has been stored in the fridge for more than four days, even if it has been stored properly.
Does pizza go bad in the fridge?
Indeed, pizza will taste awful after four or more days in the fridge. Slices with meat on top that have been left over should be eaten within 3 days so they don’t get a bad taste.
Is it possible to get food poisoning from pizza?
If you don’t take care of leftover pizza properly, it can grow bacteria, which can make you sick. For example, if your pizza has been out for more than two hours, it is no longer safe to eat.
How long will leftover pizza stay in the box?
Pizza bought in a cardboard box from a takeout restaurant should not be left in the box after it arrives since the moisture in the pizza promotes bacterial development. The best thing to do is to transfer the pizza slices to a platter and discard the box.
Conclusion
Pizza is a delicious and easy food that can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. Wrap it neatly and store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You may keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze it for up to three months.
