Sign Up To Take Part in Our Monthly Giveaways!

How Long Does Pizza Last in the Fridge?

Many folks look forward to enjoying some delicious leftover pizza. But, you may be concerned about whether or not last night’s pizza is still edible if you store it in the refrigerator.

When refrigerated, how long does pizza last?

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that properly stored pizza can survive for up to four days in the fridge. The food is safe to eat even after being frozen for up to two months.

Pizza that has been sitting in the fridge for a while is still good to eat. But, there are a few more considerations to keep in mind if you want to ensure the highest level of safety possible while storing your pizza.

In this post, we’ll discuss all of these topics, as well as the signs that your pizza has gone rotten. Everyone who gets a slice from now on will be safe because you know how to tell whether the pizza has gone bad.

Read on to find out more.

How Long Does Pizza Last at Room Temperature?

While storing pizza, the “two-hour” guideline is advised by the USDA. (source)

According to this rule, you shouldn’t leave your pizza out at room temperature for more than two hours. This is due to the fact that germs thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, you should put it in the fridge before the two-hour mark. 

That way, the pizza will be okay to eat the next day.

Can You Get Sick Eating Pizza That’s Gone Bad?

Pizza that is already terrible shouldn’t be consumed. To begin with, eating poor pizza significantly increases your risk of getting food poisoning. This is why it’s recommended to throw away pizza that has been out for longer than two hours. Even while we advise against wasting food, doing this is vital if you want to keep yourself safe.

Infections caused by food can be quite harmful. Pizza that has gone rotten may cause you to get many types of food poisoning, including:

  • – Salmonella
  • – E. Coli
  • – Campylobacter infection
  • – Staphylococcus aureus infection
  •  

Some of the common signs of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. If you feel any of these symptoms after eating food you suspect has gone bad, contact a doctor immediately.

Signs That Your Pizza Has Gone Bad

Pizza can spoil even if you strictly follow the two-hour rule and store the pie properly. This is why it’s very important to check your leftover pizza before eating it. And if it shows any signs of spoiling, it’s best to throw it out. Again, it’s not good to waste food; but it’s best to throw out any food that can be dangerous to your health.

So, here are a couple of signs that your pizza has gone bad that you need to look out for before eating leftover pizza. 

It’s Been Sitting Out for a Few Hours

First and foremost, if your pizza has been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, it isn’t worth the risk. Even if you don’t see any signs of the food going bad, the USDA recommend throwing out food if it’s been sitting out for a few hours. This is because the food at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit fosters a lot of bacteria. And if you ingest it, you risk contracting food poisoning or sickness.

So, if you accidentally left out your pizza for a few hours, it might be best to throw it out.

Dried-Out Crust

One of the most obvious symptoms that a pizza has gone bad is if the crust has dried out. Some individuals think you can eat pizza with stale crust, but we don’t suggest it.

It’s usually wise to be extra cautious while eating leftovers, as food poisoning is quite harmful. Furthermore, eating stale pizza will not provide the finest experience, since the texture may be unpleasant.

Funny Smell

If you notice a funny scent coming from your pizza, throw it out right away. Pizza with a putrid odour has clearly gone bad, and it is extremely dangerous to eat, not to mention unpleasant. This is why we recommend giving your leftovers a good sniff before delving in. If something smells stale or spoiled, throw out your pizza right away.

Slimy Toppings

Slime is produced as a byproduct of bacterial development. Thus, if a pizza has a lot of bacteria on it, it will create a slime that you can see on the toppings. And that means it’s time to bye-bye your leftover pizza. Don’t you dare eat it! Because a visit to the hospital is almost certain.

Mould

Mold will make you sick if you eat it, and it’s a fungus that can spread. If you notice mold growing on your pizza, you’ll want to throw it out right away. On top of that, we highly recommend sterilizing or throwing out the other items it came in contact with. That way, you reduce the risk of mold spreading.

Strange Taste

If you don’t notice any of the signs above and bite into the pizza, but it tastes horrible, that means it has gone bad. It’s common to miss out on some of the signs that food has spoiled, but one of the clearest signs is that it doesn’t taste good anymore. It’s always best to trust your tastebuds when it comes to food. Our bodies have evolved to find the taste of spoiled food disgusting to keep us safe and prevent us from consuming rancid food. So, if the pizza tastes off, it probably is off, so you should just throw it in the trash bin.

How to Make Your Pizza Last Longer

Food waste is a major problem, and as much as possible, we don’t recommend wasting food. So, if you can’t finish a pizza in one sitting, it’s best to store it right away so that it remains safe for longer. Here are some ways you can make your pizza last longer.

Refrigeration

As mentioned at the start of this article, pizza can last up to four days in the refrigerator. The cold temperatures prevent bacteria from growing, so you can easily reheat the pizza and safely eat it. However, bacteria starts to grow on refrigerated pizza after four days, so the USDA recommends leaving your pizza in the fridge for no longer than that.

Freezing

Wrapping your pizza in aluimiunum foil and storing it in the freezer will allow it to stay good for up to two months. That way, you can enjoy the pizza much later by simply reheating it!

Conclusion

Pizza in the fridge stays good for up to four days. However, this is only true if you follow the two-hour rule and put it in the fridge as soon as possible. But if your pizza has been sitting out for a few hours or has been in the fridge for more than four days, we highly recommend tossing it out as it’s no longer safe to eat!