Chili is the perfect winter food. There are so many ways to eat it too. It can be an appetizer or a dip for bread like Fritos. But how long does chili last in the fridge?
There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chili to make you feel like everything is right. But that’s only if you eat it right away—after three or four days, it’s time to toss out your leftovers.
Chili can last up to four days in the fridge, as long as you store it in an airtight container and keep the temperature at or below 40°F. After four days, bacteria can grow on your chili and cause foodborne illnesses, so it’s best to eat it before. If you have any doubts about the quality of your chili, use your senses to tell if it’s still good—if it smells funky or has changed color/texture, don’t risk eating it.
Is Chili Good After 7 Days?
The answer is YES! Chili can be good after seven days, even though it is not recommended. The problem is that chili has high water content, and it is highly likely for bacteria to grow in this kind of food.
It is not safe to eat chili that has been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours or more than one hour when the weather is hot outside (over 90°F). This applies especially to the chili that contains meat, which can become unsafe due to a chemical reaction after too much time at room temperature.
One thing to remember about food safety and refrigeration times: it’s always better to err on the side of caution. If you have doubts, throw the chili away right away.
Chili is a dish of spice
How Do You Know If Your Chili Has Gone Bad?
Chili is a dish of spiced meat, beans, and peppers that can be served in various forms, including stews and soups. It’s beloved comfort food in many households, but the question on everyone’s mind is: how do you know if chili is bad?
There are some clear signs that your chili has gone bad:
- The smell of the chili is pungent, unpleasant, or off-putting.
- The chili’s color has changed to a shade you don’t recognize (like blue, green, or yellow).
- The chili itself appears to have an excessive amount of mold growing on it.
If your chili shows any of these symptoms, it’s probably time to toss it out and consider cooking up something fresh.
Why Does Chili Go Bad In The Fridge?
There’s nothing worse than opening up a container of food you’ve carefully stored in the fridge, only to discover that it’s gone bad before you even had the chance to use it!
While most people know not to store their chili in the fridge, they don’t realize it’s rotten and unsafe to eat. Why does chili go bad?
It has to do with how quickly your chili will spoil. Some foods can last for months in the fridge; others don’t make it more than a few days. This is because bacteria and mold start to form on their surface when food spoils.
Chili is one of those foods that won’t last long in the fridge because it contains a lot of moisture. This makes it easier for bacteria and mold spores to grow on its surface, which then causes them to spread through the rest of your chili.
Canned Food Shelf Life
Most canned foods have a shelf life of at least two years from purchase. Canned food will maintain its quality if stored correctly. Unopened cans should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Once opened, you should store any leftover portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
How Can You Tell If Your Canned Chili Has Gotten Spoiled?
The easiest way to tell if canned chili has gone bad is by checking for mold or off-putting smells. You’ll also want to check the can for any signs of damage, such as leaks or dents that might have compromised its seal. These issues may allow air and bacteria into the can, which could cause the contents to spoil sooner than expected.
What Could Happen If You Eat Expired Chili?
Eating expired chili is not recommended. You could get food poisoning. Food poisoning comes from consuming bacteria or toxins from bacteria in food. Sometimes, food will be contaminated with bacteria, and you may never even know it. However, if you eat that food and the bacteria in it causes you to get sick, you have food poisoning.
Chili is a combination of meat, beans, and tomatoes. The various ingredients in chili can carry different types of bacteria that cause different symptoms when consumed:
- Listeria: Kill cells in the body and cause diarrhea, vomiting, joint pain, fever, or other flu-like symptoms
- Staph: Cause stomach cramps and diarrhea
- Salmonella: Cause flu-like symptoms like fatigue, fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
- Campylobacter: Cause diarrhea (sometimes bloody), stomach cramps or pain, nausea or vomiting
Suppose your chili includes any of these ingredients (especially if they are raw), and they have been exposed to air for some time or left out at room temperature too long after cooking them (not refrigerated). In that case, they may contain bacteria that could cause a severe illness.
How Should You Store Chili In Your Fridge?
There is a lot of conflicting information regarding storing chili in your fridge. The truth is, it depends on how long you plan to keep it around.
If you only want to keep the chili for a few days, put it in a sealed container and place it in the back of the fridge, where the temperature is usually cooler. The cold temperature will slow down bacterial growth and prevent spoilage.
If you want to keep the chili for a few weeks, place it in a sealed container and then put that container in a bowl filled with ice water. This will ensure that the chili temperature stays low enough to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage.
If you want to keep your chili around for months, then the best thing you can do is freeze it! Place your chili in a sealed container or freezer bag and put it in the freezer. You can take out individual portions as needed!
Conclusion
There are many ways to save money when cooking chili at home, and you probably already know most of them. But did you know that one of the simplest methods for extending the shelf life of your chili is by simply storing it in the refrigerator? Simply store your hot chili in the fridge instead of on the counter, and it can easily last for up to three weeks or more.
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