How Long Do Meatballs Last In The Fridge?
To put it simply, uncooked meatballs can last in the fridge for up to two days only. However, cooked meatballs can be stored for three to four days in the fridge. The shelf life of both these can be extended by placing them in the freezer in airtight freezer-safe containers.
In general, cooked meatballs last for three to four days in the refrigerator, particularly if using fresh meat, and if cooling them straight away after cooking is feasible. When you choose to defrost frozen meatballs in the refrigerator, you can store them refrigerated for up to four days. If the meatballs are in your refrigerator longer than four days, you will want to toss them, even though they appear to be safe for eating.
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If you are planning on keeping meatballs raw for more than a day, you need to make sure that they are kept cool. If you are planning to freeze the meatballs, you must put them into a freezer right after making them. You can either freeze the meatballs raw in a freezer-safe container, or you can freeze them once cooked (we prefer cooking meatballs prior to freezing). Cooking the meatballs will allow you to store them for longer periods of time without worrying about freezer burn.
To keep your meatballs out of danger territory, store at an extreme temperature, hot or cold. You can make and shape your meatballs ahead of time, and keep them covered for up to one day in the fridge. If you would rather not consume your meatballs right from the freezer, first defrost them and then heat. Since the meat is also thoroughly cooked, you can safely eat the meatballs right from the freezer, no reheating required.
Combine the meatballs and sauce in a skillet, cook on low heat until the meatballs are heated through. Once cooked, chill and store the meatballs and sauce as soon as possible (and within 2 hours after preparing), and transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Keep sauce on gentle, low simmer in a large pan, half-covered, for approximately 30 to 40 minutes (for pork meatballs) or at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours for beef or mixed meatballs.
| Storage | Shelf life |
| In refrigerator | 3-5 days |
| At room temperature | 2 hours |
Put evenly-sized meatballs back in the refrigerator if you still need to begin making tomato sauce, to help keep the meatballs cold, or cook them while the tomato sauce is bubbling on the stove. Place meatballs under the broiler for about eight to 10 minutes, turning once, until they reach a nice browned color.
Line the broiler tray with foil and lay out the meatballs in one layer – make sure you do not overlap. Arrange meatballs in a single layer on a sheet pan (keeping them from touching or they will freeze together) and freeze until firm. Once the meatballs are firm and frozen, put in a sealed container, either between pieces of baking paper, or place into a large zipper-lock bag. Simply put the raw meatballs onto an aluminum foil lined baking sheet, then seal them inside the airtight container.
COOK EARLY, THEN FRY AND REHEAT If you want to cook the meatballs early and then freeze them, cook them for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F, or until they are no longer pink on the inside, and allow them to completely cool. To heat up in the microwave, put 10 meatballs onto a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 2 minutes. To reheat meatballs in the oven, place the meatballs on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until the meatballs are heated through. Sear the balls to get that nice browned crust (if cooking for a crowd, evenly space the meatballs out and simply drop the pan in a hot oven to get that same effect), and then simmer them.
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If using raw meatballs, your slow cooker should be set on high setting for the first half of the time you have allocated for a thorough cooking of the meat. If you would like to expedite the cooking process, you can thaw meatballs in the refrigerator overnight before baking and they will warm up quicker. Cooked meatballs that are thawed in the refrigerator can last an extra 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator before baking; meatballs thawed in the microwave or in cold water need to be eaten immediately.
No matter what your meatballs contain, if you simply make sure you eat the cooled meatballs in the refrigerator within 3 days, you know that is completely safe. Knowing the ingredients in your meatballs is important before deciding on how long you can safely keep them in your refrigerator before eating. It is important to test the freshness of the meat that you bought when you are assessing how long you will be able to store your meatballs.
About 3 to 4 days depending on your fridge temperature and how fresh your meat was when the meatballs were made. The reason why eating meatballs past 3-5 days (beef and pork) or 3-5 days (chicken and turkey) is not healthy is due to the fact that most cooked meats spoil during that period, even when kept refrigerated. Ground meat does not last as long as whole cuts, so do not try to store meatballs longer than about three days; they will spoil fast. Generally, poultry meatballs do not keep as long as those made with pork or beef, and you should only store them for two days, unless they are exceptionally fresh — in that case, they can probably keep for three.
Taking a cold cooked meatball from your refrigerator and eating it, unreheated, is completely safe, provided that they are quickly chilled, not left at room temperature for too long, and do not go beyond the safe period set forth in todays post. The freezing times shown are only for the best quality–cooked meatballs kept frozen continuously at 0degF will remain safe indefinitely.
This estimate assumes that the cooked meatballs were stored correctly, airtight, in a refrigerator below 40degF. To maximize shelf life for safe, quality Cooked meatballs, refrigerate the meatballs in shallow, airtight containers, or wrap them tightly with heavy-duty foil or plastic wrap. Place in airtight containers to keep outside germs out of the stored meatballs.
How long do spaghetti sauce and meatballs last in the refrigerator?
If you properly store your cooked meatballs and spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator, they will last for around 3 to 5 days. To further increase the shelf life of your meatballs and spaghetti sauce, it is recommended that you freeze them in airtight containers, or sealed freezer bags.
How can you tell if beef meatballs are off?
If your cooked meatballs emit a distinct pungent odor, it means that they are spoiled. Other signs of spoilage include the meatballs being sticky or slimy to the touch. Rotten meatballs will also change color to a clear or yellowish hue, indicating that the meatballs need to be discarded immediately.
Why do meatballs get hard?
Meatballs that are packed too tightly and compactly will become tough, rubbery, and chewy. Make the meat balls gently and quickly, using oil to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands. To make uniformly sized meatballs, it is better to use a small ice cream scoop.