How long can a roast stay in the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long can a roast stay in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of the roast. Moreover, we are going to discuss the proper way to freeze and thaw roast.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long can a roast stay in the fridge?
Raw roast lasts for about 3-5 days if stored at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the fridge according to the standards set by the USDA. It should be stored in air-tight containers or plastic zipper bags on one of the shelves of the refrigerator.
On the other hand, cooked roast lasts for about 3-4 days when stored in an air-tight container in the fridge at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is worth mentioning that the shelf life of the roast depends upon the type of the meat, the degree of freshness of roast at the time of purchase, and the storage conditions in which it is kept.
How long does roast keep at room temperature?
Roast lasts for about 2 hours when kept at room temperature.
You should discard the roast that has been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore there are greater chances of the roast being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.
Moreover, if the temperature of the surroundings is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then the process of spoilage takes place at a faster pace and it is recommended to discard roast that is left out in the open for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long is roast good for in the freezer?
Raw roast, if kept wrapped in aluminum foil in an air-tight container or air-tight plastic freezer bag, can last for about 6-12 months in the freezer. On the other hand, cooked roast lasts for about 3-4 months when stored properly in the freezer.
Thus keeping the roast in the freezer will increase its shelf life considerably owing to the cool temperature of the freezer that halts the bacterial growth on the roast.
It is worth mentioning that the figures mentioned above are the estimated shelf life of roast.
The proper way to freeze and thaw the roast
You can easily store the roast by wrapping it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and afterward putting it in the plastic freezer bag or heavy-duty freezer container before storing it in the freezer to protect your roast from freezer burns.
Moreover, to preserve the quality of the roast for quite a long time you can opt for vacuum sealing it which is quite effective in prolonging its shelf life.
Vacuum sealing involves the process of putting the roast in a plastic zipper bag, removing air from it, and almost sealing the bag with a little space left while lowering it into water. Afterward, press out the bubbles from the bag starting from the bottom of the bag and once you reach the sealed end, you should press the seal closed.
The reason behind doing vacuum sealing is to ensure that there is minimum air present in the plastic zipper bag with the roast. As air has moisture and oxygen in it that favors bacterial growth, so by removing air, the roast can retain its freshness for a long time.
It is a good practice to divide the roast into portions or serving sizes that you generally need. By doing so you will be able to just thaw the quantity of roast that you need while the rest of the roast can stay in the freezer untouched. Thus keeping the roast in the freezer will increase its shelf life considerably owing to the cool temperature of the freezer that halts the bacterial growth on the roast.
When it comes to thawing the roast, there are a couple of ways to do so and you can choose any of them depending upon your choice.
- The recommended way to thaw the frozen roast is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight and let it thaw there.
- You can thaw the frozen roast in a bowl of cold water but you should cook it immediately after thawing.
- If you are thawing the roast in the oven or microwave it is recommended to cook it immediately.
Frozen roast if thawed in the refrigerator can stay there for 3-5 days before cooking it. But if you thaw your roast in a bowl of cold water or the microwave, it is advised to cook it immediately till its internal temperature rises to 165 °F.
Tips to store roast
- You should always store your roast at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore it is always advised to store your roast at a lower temperature to preserve their freshness for a long time.
- It is recommended to store roast on one of the shelves of the refrigerator rather than the door as there are a lot of temperature fluctuations at the door of the fridge.
- You can further prolong the shelf life of the roast by wrapping it in the heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic freezer bag and storing it in the freezer.
You can read about different kinds of roast here.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long can a roast stay in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of the roast. Moreover, we discussed the proper way to freeze and thaw roast.
