How Long Does Curry Last in Room Temp, Fridge, and Freezer?
Curry is an amazing and delicious dish that has its origins in India. Sometimes when we cook curry, we may make more than we are going to eat, so we plan on putting it away and eating the leftovers later. As with most foods, there is a point in time where curry will start to go bad, so we wonder how long curry will last depending on how we plan on storing it.
It is always best to keep the leftover curry in the refrigerator, but you still want to eat those leftovers within a five-day period. At room temperature, curry can last for about two hours, while it can last for about six months in the freezer, although it may not taste as good.
Continue reading to learn more about how long leftover curry can last as well as how to tell when your curry has spoiled and gone bad.
Depending on how you plan to store your curry, the length of time your curry will last varies. It is recommended that you store your leftover curry in the refrigerator, similar to leftovers for any other type of food. You can also store your curry at room temperature and in the freezer, but these are not as popular as storing it in the refrigerator.
Another factor that can affect how long your curry can last is the type of curry it is. There are many different types of curry that you can eat, and each one has a different shelf-life. The types of spices you use in your curry, such as curry powder or alternatives, can affect how long the shelf-life of your curry is.
In Room Temperature
On average, curry will last at room temperature for approximately two hours. It is best to not eat your curry if it has been left out for many hours at room temperature.
Room temperature is the least recommended method when it comes to storing leftover curry. This is because curry does not last long when stored at room temperature when compared to other methods to store your leftovers.
The length of time that curry will last at room temperature depends heavily on the ingredients in the curry as well as how the curry was prepared.
In Fridge
Curry can last around one to two days in the refrigerator on average. It is possible to leave your curry in the refrigerator for more than one or two days, but you want to eat it within a five-day period after storing it in the refrigerator.
When storing your curry in the refrigerator, you want to place it in a clean container that has a lid to cover it. Just like with storing the curry at room temperature, the ingredients in your curry and how your curry was prepared can change the amount of time that your curry will last in the refrigerator.
For example, many curry recipes that involve tofu can last for approximately a week when stored in the refrigerator.
In Freezer
Freezing is often one of the best methods to take when storing food that you will not eat for a long time. Curry can last up to six months when stored in the freezer, but it is best to eat it within a three month period. Curry that is stored in the freezer for a long period of time may not taste as good as when you have first prepared the curry.
You can use either a can or a frozen block to store your curry in the freezer. The method you choose depends on how much freezer space you have. If you have a lot of freezer space, you should do the frozen block method. If you have little space, the can method is the best for you.
You also want to make sure that once you have decided to eat the curry that you have stored in the freezer that you defrost and reheat the curry properly. The three main ways that you can thaw and reheat your curry are by using the microwave, by using your oven, and by using your skillet.
Curry, like most foods, does spoil after a period of time. Since you do not want to eat your curry after it has spoiled, it is important to be able to tell when your curry is still good and when it is time to throw it out.
The three main ways we can typically tell when food has spoiled is by its appearance, its smell, and its taste. This also works for curry.
Appearance
When food spoils, you will often see a difference in the appearance of the food from when you originally stored it. Two of the main appearance changes that you will notice when your curry spoils are that the curry looks discolored or has had a change in color and that it has a different texture.
If mold, foam, or froth develop on the curry, this is a sign that the curry has spoiled and should be thrown away. If you notice any change in the appearance of your leftover curry, it is best to throw it out as eating it could be dangerous.
Smell
Sometimes, if we do not notice any changes in the appearance of the food, the smell could be a good indicator that it has gone bad. Curry is considered to have an amazing aroma, but it has a foul smell once it has gone bad.
It has been reported that spoiled curry can smell similar to sour milk. If you take a smell of the leftover curry you left in the refrigerator and it no longer smells as amazing as it once did, it is time to throw it out.
Taste
The final method to determine if curry has spoiled is taste. Taste can be an obvious indicator of spoilage as we typically know how our food should taste. The ingredients of the curry can give it a different flavor profile compared to other curries, but you often know how your curry should taste.
If you take a taste of your leftover curry and it tastes different, like it is spoiled, then it has spoiled and should be thrown out.
How Do You Store Curry Properly So That It Will Last?
No matter which method you choose to store your leftover curry, your curry will need to be stored properly in order to ensure that it will last. Whether you keep your curry in the refrigerator or in the freezer, you want to keep it in an airtight container that has a lid to cover it.
Some other steps you can take that will help your stored curry last longer are:
Using fresh ingredients and spices when you are making the curry
Cooling down the curry to room temperature before you store it in the refrigerator
Close the lid tightly in order to keep anything from outside the container entering the container to spoil the curry
FAQs
Can you eat a leftover curry the next day?
You can eat leftover curry the next day. As long as it was stored and reheated properly, the curry should still be good for you to eat the next day.
Can you freeze curry in a Ziploc bag?
Curry can be stored in a Ziploc bag. If you are storing your curry in a Ziploc bag and putting it in the freezer, you may want to use a frozen block. This is the best way to store your curry when you want to freeze it in a Ziploc bag.
Can you reheat the curry that’s been left out?
While you can reheat curry that has been left out, the curry should be thrown out if it has been left out at room temperature for more than two or three hours.
Summary
Curry is a delicious dish that originates from India. If you make more curry than you plan on eating at one time, you can store the curry at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or in the freezer. While curry can last approximately two hours when stored at room temperature, it can last for a few days in the refrigerator and up to six months in the freezer.
When storing curry, you want to store it in an airtight container that is covered with a lid. It is also important to check your curry in order to ensure that it has not spoiled.
