Pasta is a perfect side dish for picnics and potlucks since it is easy to make and can be eaten hot or cold. You can also capitalize on the versatility of pasta salad if you live a busy life. You only need to make enough salad in advance and keep it in your fridge.
So, how long does pasta salad last in the fridge? Keeping pasta salad in your fridge requires you to know some basics about its shelf life and preservation. Read this simple guide to understand how long pasta salad lasts in the fridge and why.
How Long Does Pasta Salad Last in the Fridge?
Putting pasta salad in the fridge will extend its shelf life for more days while maintaining its taste. Pasta salad can last for three days to a week in the refrigerator, depending on its ingredients.
An excellent way to calculate how long your pasta salad can last in the fridge is to check the shelf life of the most perishable ingredient. For example, if you use mayonnaise or dairy products in your dressing, your pasta salad will last for a shorter amount of time than an oil-based dressing.
Pasta salad with mayo or dairy-based dressing has a shorter shelf life because of its ingredients. Mayonnaise, milk, meat, eggs, and other regular ingredients spoil easily and ruin the taste of your salad. On average, mayo and dairy-based pasta salad last about three to five days in the fridge.
The shelf life of your creamy pasta salad can be significantly reduced if you add some ingredients that quickly turn bad. For example, if you use Italian dressings like parmesan cheese, cups of cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, you should eat the pasta within two days. Alternatively, you can make the dressing in advance and keep it separate from the pasta.
On the other hand, oil-based pasta salad tends to last longer. You can eat your salad after one week if you practice healthy storage techniques. In addition, the oil prevents the pasta from getting soggy, making it taste fresher than dairy-based dressings. You can also add more olive oil and fresh vegetables when eating the pasta later.
You can also check your recipe cards for tangy dressings that will extend the shelf life of your pasta salad. With that, you can make more salad with a food processor while reducing your cooking time during busy days. Later in this guide, we will cover tips to help you preserve your pasta salad well in the fridge. For now, you should know how vital your pasta salad recipe is to its shelf life in and out of the fridge.
How Long Does Pasta Salad Last Out of the Fridge?
Pasta salad does not have a long shelf life out of the fridge. The average time that pasta salads last out of the refrigerator is two hours. If your creamy pasta salad is kept outside of the fridge for longer without preservation, it will become bad. You will notice the color, smell, and taste changing to reflect its bacteria activity.
If you intend to keep your classic pasta salad in the fridge, you should not leave it for too long. Take what you can finish at a time and put the rest in the refrigerator immediately. The next time you should touch it is when you eat the leftover pasta salad. That should be within three to five days, preferably.
Sometimes, you can leave your cold pasta salad out of the fridge to thaw. This should not take long, otherwise the food will spoil. You can also put the bowl of pasta salad in a microwave and heat it up.
Can You Freeze Pasta Salad?
No, you cannot freeze pasta salad. Most pasta salads, including Italian and Greek pasta salads, contain ingredients that are not good for freezing. Their usual ingredients include fresh mozzarella balls, feta cheese, kidney beans, pint cherry tomatoes, and other ingredients that will not freeze well.
For example, fresh vegetables will have lost their crispiness, and a combination of tomatoes will leave you with water floating above your mixing bowl. If you keep those crisp vegetables and cherry tomatoes away from the freezer, you may be able to enjoy your frozen pasta.
There is a hack you can try if you want to freeze your pasta salad. First, you should keep the pasta separate from the acidic salad dressings. Then, freeze a salad bowl for up to a week and add simple dressings when you’re ready to eat it. Then, you will only need plain salad, unseasoned vegetables, chunks of cheese, and anything else you need to complete your Italian pasta salad recipe.
Signs of Spoilage in Pasta Salad
Despite your best effort to preserve your classic chicken pasta salad, you may sometimes find signs of spoilage in it. Here are some signs you should always watch.
Mold
Once your cold pasta starts showing mold, it is time to throw it in the trash. Mold shows you that the pasta salad has stayed at average room temperature for too long.
Unpleasant Smell
Another way to know your plain pasta has spoiled is when you start perceiving unpleasant smells from the bowl. Cooked pasta will start smelling bad after a few days in the fridge. Store-bought pasta tends to last longer if you follow the package instructions. You should sniff before adding your blue cheese dressing or others despite the longer shelf life.
Slimy or Gooey Look
Pasta and macaroni salads take on a slimy look once they turn bad. Take your bowl of pasta away from the fridge light and check it under natural light. If you notice some goo, toss it in the bin immediately.
Bad Taste
If you do not notice any of the signs mentioned above, you can go ahead and take a small taste of the pasta. If the taste differs from what you are used to, your cold salad may have spoiled. Do not eat more of it, or it may upset your stomach.
Essentially, you should not eat from your salad bowl if you notice any of these signs. You may get food poisoning, usually characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Pasta Storage Tips You Should Know
You can extend the shelf life of a normal salad if you practice some storage habits. Read these tips to keep your salad fresh for longer.
Refrigerate Early
Once you know that you want to keep your pasta salad for later consumption, you should refrigerate it immediately. It will turn sour if you keep your Greek salad at room temperature for a long period. Likewise, refrigerating your pasta salad after it starts turning bad will not make it better.
Separate the Pasta From the Dressing
You can extend the shelf life of whatever pasta you store by separating the plain pasta from the garlic dressing or whichever you choose. The fresh garlic, tomato butter sauce, and crisp veggies will make it go bad quickly. Store them separately and mix the cold salad when you are ready to eat.
Use Clean Cutlery
What makes your salad go bad is the bacteria activity in it. You contribute by returning your spoon to the mixing bowl to take more. It is better to use clean cutlery every time you need to take more salad from the bowl. That way, you prevent the container of pasta from getting contaminated.
Leave to Cool Before Refrigerating
Another tip is to leave your pasta to cool before refrigerating. You most likely ate your pasta hot the first time. You should not put the leftover pasta salad in the fridge immediately. Leave it to cool, then put it in the fridge. That way, it will preserve nicely, and the colder pasta will be tasty.
Store in an Air-Tight Container
The final tip is to store your pasta in an air-tight container. This storage tip is crucial if you want your pasta salad to last long and maintain a good taste. You can also use plastic wrap to cut off air from the container of pasta salad before refrigerating.
Final Thoughts
You can follow any pasta recipe when you need to make it last a long time. For example, a simple cold pasta salad recipe will reduce your cook time during the week or for a big hangout. You only need to ensure the pasta stays good until you need it. Now that you know the answer to, “How long does pasta salad last in the fridge,” you’ll be able to preserve your pasta salad in the fridge for days until you need it.
