How long do Lunchables last in the fridge?

In this article, we will answer the question “How long do Lunchables last in the fridge?”, and what type of Lunchables are safe for freezing?

How long do Lunchables last in the fridge?

The shelf-life of Lunchables in the fridge depends upon the ingredients of the Lunchables. Since most of the Lunchables contain meat, they do not last more than 2 months in the fridge. 

Can you freeze Lunchables?

This depends on the ingredients of the Lunchables. For example, those containing crackers won’t freeze well. The crackers are desired for their crispy and crunchy texture. 

Upon freezing, crackers turn soggy during freezing and mushy upon thawing and this isn’t a good picture. 

Your best bet is to remove the crackers from the rest of the Lunchables and store them independently. It is a great idea to freeze Lunchables whose expiry is approaching. This helps delay the deterioration of the quality of these Lunchables.

Lunchables that come with drinks 

The drinks with the Lunchables are not supposed to be frozen. Freezing expands the volume of these drinks by 9%. This makes the bottle explode during freezing. Therefore, you should always skip freezing the drinks that come with the Lunchables.

The Lunchable filling 

The launchable fillings freeze quite well unlike the crackers. The fillings such as meat, cheese, and other desserts can be safely frozen. The changes in the texture and taste of the fillings can be kept minimum if frozen correctly. 

It is not recommended to defrost Lunchables with fillings on the counter especially if the filling contains meat. Meat, kept on the counter, for more than 2 hours becomes unsafe for consumption. The quickest way to thaw Lunchables is in the microwave.

Freezing recommendations

Lunchables that contain meat do not last indefinitely unlike the other Lunchables. Most of the Lunchables can be kept in the freezer for up to a year. But the texture and the taste deteriorates over time.

Defrosting Lunchables

Lunchables that contain perishable ingredients should not be left on the counter for more than 2 hours. When in a hurry, you can defrost the Lunchables by placing the package in a bowl containing room temperature water. The best and the safest way to thaw Lunchables is by letting them thaw in the fridge for a few hours. 

Alternatives to freezing Lunchables

Crackers and cheese have a pretty long shelf-life and if you do not want to freeze the Lunchables, you can always make your own with the customized ingredients. 

You can include healthy and unique ingredients in your Lunchables. You can also turn your Lunchables into a vegan-friendly option after reading this article.

Is it important to refrigerate Lunchables?

Yes, it is important to the refrigerator or freezes Lunchables, especially those that have meat and cheese in them. Both meat and cheese are perishables and they will quickly go bad if left on the counter for more than 2 hours. 

Are Lunchables unhealthy?

Commercially packaged or store-bought Lunchables do provide nutrients but it comes at a cost. These Lunchables contain chemicals and preservatives and go through extensive processing.

If you want the Lunchables to be a source of nutrients and include it as a part of your healthy 

lifestyle, it is better to make your own at home.

The bologna contained in the Lunchables is mechanically separated chicken which means this is a paste-like poultry product by pressuring bone that contains a little amount of edible tissue.

Most of the Lunchables contain artificial flavors, colors, saturated fats, and high fructose corn syrup. It is safe to say that Lunchables are only good for occasional treats. They should not become a part of the daily diet.

How long can you leave ham on the counter?

If the temperatures are warm, ham sitting out for more than 2 hours is deemed unfit for consumption. If the temperature is above 0℉, the ham should not be consumed after 1 hour of sitting out, even if it looks alright. If the outside temperature is relatively cool, ham can sit on the counter for a few hours.

How does freezing impact the taste of the Lunchables?

The changes in quality parameters of crackers are significant and anyone would reject soggy crackers. Apart from that, the taste of other types of Lunchables, such as those with meat or cheese, tastes fine after freezing and thawing. This is only possible if the Lunchables were stored correctly in the first place.

Can you safely refreeze Lunchables?

No, it is not recommended to freeze Lunchables especially if they contained meat and were thawed on the counter. Overall, it is a bad idea to freeze the thawed Lunchables. 

Since the bad effects of the freeze and thaw cycle will be more pronounced after the second freezing and thawing cycle, why waste your time, freezer space, and power.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “How long do Lunchables last in the fridge?”, and what type of Lunchables are safe for freezing?

References

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