Food Storage & Safety
Leftover Storage Guide
Enter when you cooked it and see the date to eat (or freeze) your leftovers by.
Measurement System PreferenceAuto-saved
Currently active across all 60 calculators: US Customary (cups, tbsp, oz, °F, in)
My stored food
Nothing tracked yet. Items you add are saved in this browser only.
Fridge dates are food-safety limits from FoodSafety.gov. Freezer dates are for best quality only: food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, but its taste and texture fade. Spoilage bacteria you can smell aren't the ones that make you sick, so when in doubt, throw it out.
How to use this calculator
- 1Choose the kind of leftover, such as cooked meat, soup, pizza, or rice.
- 2Enter the date it was cooked and whether it's in the fridge or freezer.
- 3See the date to eat it by. Tap "Add to my list" to keep track of several dishes.
Tip: Most cooked leftovers keep 3-4 days in the fridge. If you won't eat it by then, freeze it.
How it's calculated
Use-by date = Date cooked + Fridge limit (3-4 days for most cooked leftovers)
We do the math at full precision and only round the final answer, so the numbers you see are as close as kitchen measurements allow. The assumptions and limits are listed alongside.
Worked example
Scenario: Cooked beef stew prepared on Sunday evening.
InputsCooked beef stew on Sunday
CalculationSunday + 4 days = Thursday evening deadline.
ResultConsume by Thursday or freeze by Wednesday
Common questions
Can I reheat leftovers multiple times?
It's safe if you reheat to 165°F each time and refrigerate promptly, but quality suffers. Reheating just the portion you'll eat is best.