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Meal prep is great for busy people and anyone who wants to save money, time and eat healthier.
Many people who are new to meal prep have a few common questions: How long does meal prep last in the fridge? Does meal prepped food go bad? How do you store meal prep, so it stays fresh longer?
This article will answer all those questions and help you have a better meal-prepping experience.
Contents
How Long Does Meal Prep Last?
There is no one fit all answer for how long meal prep lasts. It all depends on the ingredients, ingredient age, recipe, cooling times, and storage.
Many factors affect how long a recipe will expire, but some pretty well-tested guidelines are in these official food safety charts.
If the ingredients are fresh and of good quality and the storage has been done correctly, most meal prep foods will last for 3-4 days.
This includes high-risk cooked foods like meat, including chicken, pork, and beef, and cooked fish like salmon and tuna.
How to Make Your Meal Prep Last Longer
The best way to make sure your meal prep lasts longer is to store the food properly and make sure you buy good quality ingredients.
Cooling food after cooking quickly and then refrigerating it will help bridge the gap of the danger zone that is between cooking and cooling.
Good quality ingredients that are fresher and not tarnished will also generally last longer than damaged, older foods.
How long do meals last in the freezer?
Frozen foods stored correctly technically last indefinitely because bacteria are unable to grow. However, this doesn’t mean that the quality of the ingredient will stay the same. And who knows if your home freezer has never adjusted temperature while adding groceries or power cuts in the night.
I recommend eating frozen recipes in under six months of being frozen. This will help maintain quality and lower any potential risks. Have a look at how to freeze meal prep for all the latest tips and tricks.
How do I store food for meal preparation?
Storage containers are your best bet when it comes to storing meal prep. There are two types you can choose from—plastic and glass containers.
Glass containers might be slightly more expensive, but they’ll help you store the food in a safe and long-lasting way. Make sure to take a look at my top picks for the best glass meal prep containers while buying.
Also, make sure that your container is airtight to prevent bacteria from growing and entering the containers.
For liquid or smaller items, you can use freezer bags that can be sealed to prevent airflow.
I’ve also covered a few more tips about storing meal prep food that you may find helpful.
FAQ’s
Do eggs that are meal prepped last in the fridge?
Yes, eggs that are meal prepped can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-5 days if stored properly in a sealed container. If you want to freeze hard-boiled eggs, they’ll last for around a month.
How long will chicken and rice stay in the fridge?
Chicken and rice are common ingredients found in everyone’s kitchen. So, it’s given that a lot of people will be using them to prep meals for the week.
Like most other meal prep food, chicken and rice that has been prepped and stored in the fridge will be good for 3-4 days.
Richmond Howard started Meal Prepify in 2019 and has helped over a million people learn how to meal prep, get better at meal planning, and create a kitchen they love to use. He’s an avid home chef and loves to bbq, grill out, and make awesome food for family and friends. He’s been featured on MSN, Renaissance Periodization, and Good Financial Cents.
