Pork is often wonderfully tender and flavorful meat, but sometimes, we can accidentally make a little too much of it. So what do you do if you don’t want to waste it? Well, here’s some information about ‘how long is cooked pork good in the fridge’ to help you out!
How long does cooked pork last?
When you’re dealing with cooked pork, you don’t have to worry about it going stale or anything like that. Since pork is almost entirely protein and fat, you’re dealing with bacterial growth. To slow down bacterial growth, lowering the temperature is the right move.
Moving the pork into the fridge will lower the temperature and reduce the rate of bacterial growth through the pork itself. Once in the fridge, it will last for three to four days before it becomes too contaminated to eat.
How long is cooked pork good in the fridge?
Cooked pork will last quite well in the fridge, typically around what you might expect other food items (especially cooked meat) to last in there. Cooked pork will last for around three to four days while in your fridge. Beyond that point, it will be too contaminated with bacterial growth for you to eat it.
This is quite average for cooked meat since cooking the meat extends its shelf life to some degree. For example, raw chicken can be kept in your fridge for one to two days, while cooked chicken can be kept there for four days.
How long is cooked pork good in the freezer?
Cooked pork, like most meat, will last for two to three months in the freezer. The best way to freeze something high protein like meat or cheese is to wrap the food first in a layer of permeable paper, such as baking or butcher’s paper, and then in a layer of cling film. This process will mean that frost forms on the paper, rather than the meat, and then condensation in the freezer won’t settle upon the package, instead rolling off the cling film.
What to serve with cooked pork?
Cooked pork can be served with many different things. It’s commonly a main staple of a number of different roast dinner-style dishes, so a potato side would be a good choice. You could opt for something simple like a creamy mash, or something more interesting like spicy, herby roast potatoes.
Alternatively, you could choose to go with any of the standard steakhouse side dishes. A different great option could be macaroni cheese, of which a small portion is commonly served in steakhouses. I’d suggest making less macaroni cheese than you think you’ll need – pork is obviously very filling, so you’ll have a little less room for sides.
How to store cooked pork?
The easiest way to store cooked pork in the short term is to place it in your fridge. Ensure that it’s wrapped in an airtight covering or container, and place it in the fridge. Once there, it will last for around three days, or possibly another day, before it’s a little too contaminated to eat.
If you’re looking to keep pork for a little longer, then freezing it is your best bet. Wait until the pork is totally cool after being cooked, and then wrap it in an initial layer of baking paper or butcher’s paper. Follow that wrapping with cling film, and use a permanent marker to write the date of storage on the wrapping.
Place the pork in the center of your freezer, not touching any ice directly, and it will freeze well. You can then store it for around two to three months.
When you defrost the pork, make sure to recook it to the point that it is steaming hot throughout – that will ensure that the pork is safe to eat.
Risks of eating expired pork
The main risk of eating expired pork is food poisoning. As you store pork in any situation, but especially in the fridge with other food items, the risk of cross-contamination is very high.
If bacteria from raw meat or, simply, a dirty area in the fridge makes contact with the pork, then it will rapidly take up residence and grow throughout the meat. This contamination makes the pork unsafe to eat, which is, of course, a bad thing.
In those few days when the bacteria are setting in, they’re only present in such small amounts that your immune system (combined with thoroughly cooking the pork to ensure it’s food safe) will allow you to fend them off. Beyond three days, though, the pork will be too far gone, and should just be thrown out.
FAQ
Can I eat cooked pork after six days?
No, you really shouldn’t eat cooked pork beyond four days in the fridge. It can be stored for longer than that, but only when it’s totally frozen. The freezing process virtually stops the entire bacterial growth process, meaning that you can eat food that has been frozen for quite a long time.
To be completely clear – you cannot eat pork that has been refrigerated for six days. Whether cooked or raw, that pork will be expired, and cannot be eaten.
How can you tell if pork is spoiled?
Well, good pork should have a pinkish coloring to it, with some level of white fat running through it. As the color shifts, you will be able to tell that the food is expiring over time. A dull grey is a sign that your pork is on the way out. A yellow or green coloration, though, is even worse – that pork is definitely bad.
A slimy or sticky texture is another indicator that the pork is spoiled – that slimy residue is secretions from bacteria as they rot the meat itself. They will also emit a terribly acidic, ammonia-like smell that you will be able to notice by sniffing the pork.
How long is raw pork good in the fridge?
Raw pork can be kept in your fridge for three to four days. Make sure that it is kept separately from cooked pork, and that there is no cross-contamination between the two. The reason for this is that raw pork can contain bacteria which would cause cooked pork to spoil very rapidly.
Cooked pork in fridge for 7 days? Is that okay?
I’d say try to only keep your cooked pork in the fridge for 3-4 days maximum (3 months max if you store it in the freezer)
Anything longer than that can start to get quite risky.
Raw pork in fridge for a week?
Similar to cooked pork, you’d want to keep your raw pork in the fridge for 3 to 4 days max! And if you store it in the freezer, it can usually last up to 3 or 4 months.
How Long Is Cooked Pork Good In The Fridge
Instructions
- Ensure that the leftover cooked pork is wrapped in an airtight covering or container, and place it in the fridge.
- Once there, it will last for around three days, or possibly another day, before it’s a little too contaminated to eat.
- If you’re looking to keep pork for a little longer, then freezing it is your best bet. Wait until the pork is totally cool after being cooked, and then wrap it in an initial layer of baking paper or butcher’s paper.
- Follow that wrapping with cling film, and use a permanent marker to write the date of storage on the wrapping.
- Place the pork in the center of your freezer, not touching any ice directly, and it will freeze well. You can then store it for around three months.
- When you defrost the pork, make sure to recook it to the point that it is steaming hot throughout – that will ensure that the pork is safe to eat.
Wrapping it up!
Knowing when to keep or throw out meat in your kitchen is a basic food safety point, and being sure that your leftover cooked pork is safe is important for ensuring the safety of your family!
So I hope this article was helpful : )