How long is chicken soup good for in the fridge

Soup is one of the healthiest foods, and it is straightforward to prepare and reheat. However, it is only delicious when enjoyed hot.

Hence, if you have cooked this dish in larger quantities than necessary, you are probably wondering, “how long does soup last in the fridge?”

The article will help you answer this question and provide you with other valuable information. So, let’s dive in and figure out more about it!

How Long Does Soup Last in the Fridge?

On average, you can keep soup in the fridge for three to four days before it goes bad. If you have to keep it longer than that, keep it in the freezer. Thanks to that, it can last from three to more months.

Your refrigerator should be at 4.4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit). In addition, you should let your dish cool a bit before putting it in the refrigerator.

Keep in mind that do not eat anything left out for more than 2 hours after cooking. In other words, if your dish is not refrigerated after 2 hours, it has entered the danger zone, making it possible for you to face poisoning diseases.

Here are the ideal times to refrigerate each type of soup. Your refrigerator needs to be set at 40 degrees F under all circumstances.

How to Properly Store Soups in the Fridge and Freezer?

You can keep your soups for three to four days in the refrigerator and longer in the freezer. However, it is essential to do it properly to get the best results.

Store in Fridge

Proper storage of your soups in the refrigerator is essential for later enjoyment.

Rule number one, never put hot food in your fridge. Otherwise, the temperature inside the refrigerator will increase, causing all other foods inside the refrigerator to spoil.

So, you need to let your soups cool before storing them in the fridge. If you have a large soup pot, it is wise to divide it into smaller containers to cool faster.

Rule number two, make sure the temperature in your fridge stays at 4.4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit), so your soups stay well. Also, keep your soups in an airtight container, allowing them not to become contaminated and spill.

Store in Freezer

If your dish needs to be stored for longer than three to four days, freezing is a good way to go.

First, you need to store your food in a sealed freezer container or freezer bag. It is essential to leave about 1/2 inch of space in the container as your soups will soon expand during the freezing process.

If you use a freezer bag, you need to squeeze out excess air before tossing it in the freezer. Using a freezer bag is highly recommended as it can lay flat in the freezer, allowing you to save space inside the freezer.

Finally, it would be best to label your soup container to remember the expiration date. You can keep your soups in the freezer for three to three months.

Thaw Your Frozen Soups

You need to defrost your food entirely before proceeding to reheat it, as it will taste better when reheated after it has been wholly defrosted. Here is how:

Step 1: Place your dish in a container and leave it in the fridge for one to two days. Once there, it will be defrosted while remaining cold. This effort allows you to keep your soups safe.

Step 2: If you want to speed up the thawing process, it is wise to place the soups in a basin of warm water. After that, you need to change the water continuously until your dish is completely defrosted.

How to Reheat Soup?

After thawing your dish from the refrigerator or freezer, you can reheat it in two ways, including using a stovetop or a microwave.

In the Microwave

Step 1: Put it in a microwave-safe container and make sure you leave about 1/2 of the space at the top. Then, cover the container.

Step 2: Set the microwave to high and set the timer to half a minute. Then, open your microwave and stir the soup. Continue microwaving it for another half minute.

Step 3: You need to make sure that the temperature of your food reaches 165 degrees F. That way, you can rest assured that any bacteria in your soups have been killed.

On a Stovetop

Step 1: Get a pot large enough that you can stir the soup without spilling. You may need to add about 1 to 1.5 cups of liquid to some soups like soup with rice or pasta.

Step 2: Next, you need to set the stovetop’s temperature appropriately. You will need to keep the heat on medium to warm up the soup from the fridge and keep stirring, so it doesn’t clump.

If you need to reheat food from the freezer that hasn’t been defrosted, you need to add about half to a cup of water and cook it on low for a few minutes. After wholly defrosting, turn the heat to medium and stir constantly.

Step 3: Heat it over low heat until it boils. Again, it is essential to stir it often not to clump or stick to the pot.

Let it boil for 1 to 2 minutes, then turn down the heat and cook it over low heat for about another minute.

Step 4: Once done, you need to check its temperature. Make sure it’s at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The USDA recommends this temperature to ensure that any germs and bacteria in your food are killed.

If it hasn’t reached this temperature yet, you must keep heating it.

Step 5: Serve your food.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long can you keep homemade soup in the refrigerator?

You can store it in your refrigerator within 3 to 4 days.

2. Can I eat soup that has been in the fridge for a week?

The answer is no. It can give you food poisoning.

3. Is soup good after 5 days?

The answer is no. Your soup will go bad after 4 days

4. How do you know when soup goes bad?

If your soup has a sour or unpleasant smell, it is most likely spoiled, and you should throw it away.

Conclusion

Via the above brief guide, we answered: “how long does soup last in the fridge?” with an in-depth analysis. Furthermore, we discussed the right way to reheat your soups. Hopefully, the above information is helpful to you.

Also Read: How Long Does Meatloaf Last in the Fridge?

Top 8 how long is chicken soup good for in the fridge edited by Family Cuisine