Can I eat 2 days old Curry?

In this article, we answer the following question: Can I eat two days old curry? We talk about the best way to keep leftovers, store food in the freezer correctly, and the best way to defrost food. 

Can I eat 2 days old Curry?

You can eat 2 days old Curry if refrigerated in the first 2 hours after cooking. It is always better to consume the curry within 48 hours of refrigeration; beyond that, there is hardly any nutritional value left in the food.

The ideal is to store curry in an airtight jar, stored in a dark place, if not dark, preferably dry, and quite cold. In this way, the mixture will keep its flavors and properties as long as possible. Refrigerating food is a common practice but does not make it a habit for the future.

How long does cooked food last in the fridge?

  • Neither pasta, rice, nor legumes go through the coolest cupboard in the house; just look at the expiration date to avoid “food” danger. 
  • In the case of vegetables, it depends on the type, but usually a week. 
  • It is best to cook the fish the day it is bought, but if not, we should do it in the following two days. 
  • Not all meats keep in good condition for the same amount of time, beef or pork for 3-5 days, while chicken only 1 or 2. 
  • Eggs can keep in good condition for almost three weeks. 

Storing food in the freezer

If we are far-sighted, one of those who like to save and save for what may happen, for having “some meat” because you took the largest tray of steaks from the shelf … don’t worry! The freezer will always be waiting for something to cool. 

Vegetables last up to ten months at sub-zero temperatures, fish if it is lean for six months if it is fatty for three months. The more fat the meat has, the less time it should be in the freezer. Chicken meat will keep up to ten months, pork six months, and minced beef only two.

You can read the following sentence twice because I dare say that you may be doing it wrong: Once the food is cooked, it should never be left to cool out of the fridge. Nothing happens because of the contrast between cold and heat, because precisely during this time that it is outside is when it can get contaminated. 

The bacteria produce heat resistant spores and do not die even if the food is heated later. If you put it in the fridge, it doesn’t put those spores. So if you are not going to eat it immediately, put it in the refrigerator, whether it is cooked pasta, vegetables, or the soup you just made.

Another recommendation that we often fail to comply with is to keep some canned foods in the refrigerator. If you open a can of tuna and only use half, you put the other half in an airtight container, preferably glass, and remove it from the can because it tends to release harmful substances to our health.  The same explanation is valid for the casseroles

What is the best way to defrost food? 

There are several options, the microwave is valid in terms of hygiene and health, but it must be borne in mind that it is irregular, and there may be charred areas and others frozen. 

Some foods can be defrosted and cooked at the moment, for example, some mushrooms or croquettes that are not cooked, but if it is something that we have previously cooked or raw, the best thing is to put it first in the fridge, at least one day, then at room temperature and then it’s ready to cook. 

The correct temperature in the fridge

Refrigerated foods should be kept at a temperature of 4 ° C (40 ° F) or less. The temperature of refrigerators should be monitored in the same way as that of freezers. All refrigerators must have a good thermometer visible and precise. 

The thermometer should be located in the refrigerator’s hottest part, either near the door and near the top. Temperatures should be checked several times a day to ensure they stay at 4 ° C (40 ° F) or less. Once a week, you should use a probe thermometer to ensure that the temperature displayed on the refrigerator thermometer is correct.

Freezers and refrigerators will perform better and preserve food safety if you follow these tips:

  • as much as possible, keep the door closed;
  • do not overload the refrigeration area;
  • in terms of shelves, use uncoated metal racks (i.e., without cardboard, aluminum foil, or other solid material);
  • do not use wood in your refrigerators, as this may promote mold development;
  • make sure that the door seals are airtight and in good condition.

You can read more about How to Cut Food Waste and Maintain Food Safety here.

Other FAQs about Curry that you may be interested in.

Why does restaurant curry taste better?

Why is my Thai curry bitter?

What is the difference between curry paste and curry powder?

Conclusions

In this article, we answered the following question: Can I eat 2 days old curry? We talked about the best way of keeping leftovers, correctly storing food in the freezer, and the best way to defrost food. 

You could eat a 2 days old curry if you kept it in an airtight jar, stored in a dark place, if not dark, preferably dry, and quite cold. Do not forget that storing food properly in the fridge is the best way of preventing foodborne illnesses. 

If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know!

References

WebMD.com

Who.int

Foodsafety.gov