Have you cooked a delicious pork dish that turned out better than your expectations? Well, it is time consuming and takes a lot of effort.
You might as well save some for later. But before that, it is worth knowing how long can you keep cooked pork in the fridge.
This is crucial because spoilt food is known to cause a number of illnesses and diseases and even death in severe cases. Food poisoning roughly affects 48 million people every year, out of which several cases happen due to eating bad or spoilt food at home.
How Long Can You Keep Cooked Pork?
You should try to finish cooked porn in three to four days after refrigerating it ideally. The ideal refrigeration temperature is supposed to be 40°F or less.
However, a lot of it also depends on how soon you refrigerate it. Ideally, you should enjoy the dish and keep the leftovers in the fridge within two hours of cooking.
You should also refrigerate it properly in air-tight containers for freshness and safety. Alternately, you can wrap the dish in aluminum foil or plastic wrap before transferring it to a shallow container.
Can You Extend the Shelf Life of Refrigerated Cooked Pork?
Although you must try to finish refrigerated pork in three to four days, you can extend the shelf life by freezing it.
Store it in an air-tight container or aluminum and plastic wraps before freezing. This can keep it safe for consumption for a couple of months at least.
How to Ensure That Refrigerated Pork Is Safe for Consumption?
After taking out refrigerated pork, make sure to check it is fresh and safe for consumption.
The smell and the look of the pork should give away if it is safe for consumption. Rotten pork will usually smell bad and have a slimy texture to it. If there is a sour, bad smell coming from it, just discard it.
What Happens If You Don’t Refrigerate Cooked Pork?
Food left outside without refrigeration is bound to attract bacteria that are harmful to your health. There are two prominent types of bacteria that attack food.
Pathogenic Bacteria: These are very harmful bacteria that have the potential to cause food-borne diseases.
The worst part about these bacteria is that they quickly grow on unrefrigerated food and can’t be detected by smell or looks.
While you may think that the cooked pork is safe to eat as it doesn’t exude any visible signs of spoilage, chances are pathogenic bacteria are already having a meal out of it.
Spoilage Bacteria: As food rots because of lack of proper refrigeration, these bacteria begin their work causing the food to rot, smell and change in texture and appearance.
If you leave your cooked porn outside the fridge, the spoilage bacteria may cause it to spoil.
Make sure to refrigerate your cooked pork as soon as you are done enjoying it. This way you will be able to enjoy it later too.