Enter your food type, storage method (fridge or freezer), and date stored to find out if your leftovers are still safe to eat. You'll get the expiration date, days remaining, and a safety status so you never have to guess again.
Safety Status
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Use By / Expiration Date
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Days Since Stored
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Days Remaining
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Total Shelf Life
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Shelf Life Used
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Cooked beef, pork, and lamb leftovers are generally safe in the refrigerator for 3–4 days when stored in an airtight container at or below 40°F (4°C). After that, the risk of bacterial growth increases significantly. When in doubt, throw it out.
Most cooked leftovers freeze well, including meats, soups, stews, and casseroles. Freezing at 0°F (-18°C) can extend shelf life to 2–6 months depending on the food type. However, salads with dressing, cooked eggs, and some dairy-heavy dishes do not freeze well and may change in texture.
Trust your senses. Discard leftovers that have an off or sour smell, visible mold, a slimy texture, or unusual discoloration. Remember that some dangerous bacteria like Listeria don't cause obvious spoilage signs, so always follow recommended storage times regardless of appearance.
No — reheating does not reset the shelf life clock. The clock starts from when the food was originally cooked and stored. Reheating kills bacteria present at the time, but the food continues to age from its original storage date. Only consume leftovers within the recommended window from the date they were first stored.
Your refrigerator should be set at or below 40°F (4°C). The "danger zone" for bacterial growth is between 40°F and 140°F (4°C–60°C). Keeping your fridge cold enough slows bacterial growth and helps leftovers last for the full recommended time.
Cooked poultry lasts 3–4 days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, it can safely keep for up to 4 months while maintaining good quality. Always store poultry in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and cross-contamination.
Certain foods require extra caution. Cooked rice should be refrigerated quickly and used within 1–2 days due to Bacillus cereus spores. Raw or cooked mushrooms, cooked eggs, and dishes with mayonnaise-based dressings are also higher risk. When in doubt, use this calculator and follow the FDA's FoodKeeper guidelines.
For leftovers you cook at home, there's no printed date — the storage clock starts the moment the food is prepared. This calculator applies science-based guidelines from the FDA and USDA to estimate a safe use-by date based on the food type and storage method you select.