Macaroni and cheese is a pantry staple for many households. The pre-packaged boxes provide a quick, easy, and economical meal option. With some boxes of macaroni and cheese costing less than a dollar, it can be tempting to stock up when they are on sale. But with most boxes stamped with a best by date somewhere between 6 to 12 months after the packaging date, many consumers wonder just how long boxed macaroni and cheese stays fresh and edible past that printed date.
Read on for detailed information on exactly how long store bought macaroni lasts both before and after opening, as well as tips for mac and cheese storage.
How long does unopened dry macaroni last?
Unopened boxes of dried pasta including macaroni can be expected to stay fresh in the pantry far past any best by date printed on the packaging. Dried pasta has a very long shelf life of 1-2 years past the printed date when stored properly.
Here are some guidelines for dry macaroni storage:
- Store unopened boxes of pasta in a cool, dry place like a pantry or cupboard away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Avoid storage areas that experience large temperature fluctuations or high humidity.
- Once opened, transfer any unused macaroni to an airtight container and store as described above.
Properly stored in a cool dark pantry, unopened boxes of dried macaroni remain edible and of good quality for at least 1 year past any printed expiration date. Discard if the pasta appears dried out, crumbly, discolored, has an odd odor, or shows any signs of moisture or mold growth.
How to tell if dry macaroni is still good?
It can be difficult to determine freshness of dry goods like macaroni once the original packaging is opened. Here are some tips for evaluating the quality of dried macaroni:
- Look – Pasta should have a uniform color all over. Discard any macaroni that is discolored or has dark/light specks.
- Smell – Macaroni should have little to no smell. Discard any with a stale, musty, or unpleasant aroma.
- Texture – Good quality pasta feels hard. It should not be sticky, mushy, or easily cracked when bent.
- Taste – Cook up a small sample. Fresh macaroni will taste plain. Rancid pasta has a bitter, sour, or stale flavor.
If your unopened or opened macaroni passes these checks, it should still be fine to use.
Does cooked macaroni and cheese go bad?
Once macaroni is prepared into a cheesy pasta meal, it is best consumed within 3 to 5 days. Like any cooked food, prepared macaroni and cheese is at higher risk of spoiling from bacteria growth. Follow these guidelines for safe storage of cooked mac and cheese:
- Allow hot pasta to cool slightly before transferring to airtight storage containers or resealable plastic bags.
- Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Do not leave cooked pasta dishes at room temperature.
- Cooked macaroni will keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
- For longer storage, freeze extra mac and cheese for 2 to 3 months.
- When reheating, cook to 165°F. Only reheat once.
How to tell if cooked mac and cheese is bad?
Check cooked macaroni dishes using the following methods before eating:
- Look – Discard pasta that has mold growth or looks slimy or dried out.
- Smell – Cooked pasta that smells sour or unpleasant should be thrown out.
- Temperature – Leftover mac and cheese should be steaming hot all the way through after reheating.
- Taste – Bad pasta will have an off flavor. If in doubt, throw it out.
When stored properly in the refrigerator, homemade or store bought macaroni and cheese keeps well for 3 to 5 days. However, trust your senses. If the pasta seems at all off, play it safe and discard.
How long does boxed macaroni and cheese last after opening?
Once opened, the shelf life of boxed macaroni and cheese depends on whether it is prepared or still dry. Here are general guidelines:
- Dry macaroni from an opened box will stay fresh for 1 year in the pantry stored in an airtight container.
- Uncooked cheese powder packets last 9 months in the pantry after opening.
- Prepared mac and cheese lasts 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
The dry macaroni noodles and cheese powder packets enclosed in boxed kits stay safe much longer than freshly made pasta. Follow the same dry pasta storage tips to prolong the shelf life after opening.
How to store an opened box of macaroni and cheese?
To get the longest shelf life out of opened boxed macaroni and cheese:
- Transfer any unused dry macaroni to an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Push out excess air and store in a cool, dry pantry.
- Keep unopened cheese sauce packets in the original box and store as described above. Once opened, keep packets tightly sealed.
- Refrigerate prepared macaroni and cheese within 2 hours. Store in airtight containers for up to 5 days.
With proper storage methods, the ingredients in an opened box of macaroni and cheese stay fresh for a surprisingly long time. The dry components last for months, while cooked pasta only keeps for a few days.
Can expired macaroni make you sick?
Eating pasta that is past its best by date does not necessarily pose any health risks. Dry macaroni lasts a very long time if stored properly. However, expired cooked pasta can grow dangerous bacteria and make you sick.
Symptoms of foodborne illness from contaminated macaroni and cheese can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Fever
To avoid getting sick from expired macaroni and cheese:
- Check dry pasta for any odor, texture, or color changes before cooking.
- Do not eat prepared macaroni stored for over 5 days in the fridge.
- Reheat leftover mac and cheese thoroughly to 165°F.
- Discard pasta that smells bad or appears moldy.
Exercising proper storage methods and food safety practices will keep both dry and cooked macaroni safe to eat past any printed dates.
How to make macaroni and cheese last longer?
You can extend the shelf life of macaroni and cheese with these tips:
- Buy boxes with later best by dates and use those expiring sooner first.
- Transfer opened dry macaroni to airtight containers to keep out humidity.
- Refrigerate cheese sauce packets after opening.
- Cook only amount needed and refrigerate extra portions immediately.
- Divide leftovers into smaller containers for faster chilling.
- Use freezer-safe containers for longer frozen storage.
With optimal storage conditions, dry store bought macaroni can last over a year past any dates on the packaging. Cooked mac and cheese keeps for 3 to 5 days refrigerated. Freezing extends the shelf life even longer.
How long is macaroni good for when cooked?
Cooked macaroni and cheese will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Pasta dishes prepared at home or store bought contain ingredients that can quickly spoil without proper chilling.
Follow these refrigeration guidelines:
- Let cooked pasta cool slightly before refrigerating.
- Divide into shallow airtight containers within 2 hours.
- Store cooked macaroni in fridge for 3 to 5 days.
- Check for signs of spoilage before eating.
- Discard if mold appears or smells bad.
Macaroni that is continuously refrigerated after cooking keeps well for 3 to 5 days. For maximum food safety, throw away any leftovers more than 5 days old.
Can you eat macaroni and cheese after 5 days?
It is not recommended to eat macaroni and cheese that has been refrigerated for longer than 5 days. Even when stored in airtight containers, cooked pasta is prone to bacteria growth. Macaroni that is older than 5 days may begin spoiling.
Look for these signs that refrigerated mac and cheese has gone bad:
- Mold growth
- Slimy appearance
- Sour or off smell
- Dry, crumbly, or hard texture
- Discoloration
If your prepared macaroni and cheese displays any odd odors, textures, or appearances after 5 days, it is best to discard.Cooking pasta does not destroy dangerous bacteria spores that can rapidly multiply and cause foodborne illness if left too long at unsafe temperatures.
Does macaroni and cheese go bad in the fridge?
Macaroni and cheese can spoil in the refrigerator after some time. The shelf life depends on the type of ingredients and storage method.
Here is how long different types of macaroni and cheese last refrigerated:
| Type | Refrigerator Life |
|---|---|
| Homemade mac and cheese | 3-5 days |
| Boxed mac and cheese, prepared | 3-5 days |
| Store bought mac and cheese | 3-5 days |
| Macaroni pasta salad | 3-5 days |
To extend the refrigerated shelf life:
- Cool pasta quickly before refrigerating.
- Divide into shallow, covered containers.
- Store macaroni on fridge shelves, not doors.
- Avoid overcrowding fridge to maintain consistent temperature.
With proper chilling and storage methods, prepared macaroni and cheese keeps well in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Discard any leftovers exceeding that timeframe.
What happens if you eat bad macaroni and cheese?
Eating spoiled macaroni and cheese that contains harmful bacteria could cause a foodborne illness. Symptoms may include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Fatigue and body aches
In otherwise healthy individuals, symptoms often resolve within 12-48 hours. Seek medical care if symptoms persist or are severe. At risk groups like pregnant women, children, and those with weak immune systems should take extra caution and discard macaroni at the first signs of spoilage.
Prevent illness by observing safe refrigerated storage times of no more than 5 days for cooked pasta. When reheating, make sure macaroni is very hot all the way through before eating.
Conclusion
With proper dry storage, unopened boxes of macaroni stay fresh in the pantry for 1-2 years past any printed best by date. Once cooked, macaroni and cheese should be eaten within 3 to 5 days when refrigerated in airtight containers. Look for signs of mold, smell, texture, and color changes to determine if cooked pasta has spoiled. Discard expired or questionable macaroni and cheese to be safe. Following these storage guidelines allows you to keep macaroni and cheese on hand for quick and easy meals without worry.