How long do leftovers last?
What official food-safety agencies say about leftovers, and how long common cooked foods last. Last checked: 1 October 2026.
United Kingdom
Eat leftovers within 48 hours or freeze them if you think this won’t be possible.
United States
Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or frozen for 3 to 4 months.
How long cooked foods last in the refrigerator
| Food | Form | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | Fully cooked | - | 3 months |
| Chicken | Whole | 1-2 days | 12 months |
| Cooked beef gravy or beef broth | Cooked Beef Gravy or Beef Broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked fish | All | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Cooked pasta | Cooked pasta | 2 days | 4 weeks |
| Cooked poultry dishes | Cooked poultry dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked rice | Cooked rice | 1 day | 3 months |
| Cooked shellfish | All | 2-3 days | 1-3 months |
| Eggs | In shell | 3-5 weeks | - |
| Fresh lobster tails | Cooked | 2-3 days | 2-4 weeks |
| Ham | Shelf-stable cans, opened | - | 1-2 months |
| Home cooked beef, soups, stews or casseroles | Home Cooked Beef, Soups, Stews or Casseroles | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Home cooked pork; soups, stews or casseroles | Home Cooked Pork; Soups, Stews or Casseroles | 2-3 days | 2-3 months |
| Leftover gravy, broth, patties and nuggets | Cooked Meat, Poultry, and Fish Leftovers: Gravy and broth, patties, and nuggets | 1-2 days | 1-3 months |
| Leftovers | With meat, fish, poultry, or egg | 2-3 days | 2-3 months |
| Quinoa | Cooked | 6-7 days | 6-12 months |
| Sausage | Raw bulk type or patties | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Turkey | Whole | 1-2 days | 12 months |