Minced meat and co .: These foods don't last a day in the refrigerator

While some foods can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, others need to be consumed quickly. This is how long raw meat, cooked noodles and rice can be used.

• How long food can be kept in the refrigerator varies.
• It is particularly important to be careful with raw fish and meat.
• The temperature of the refrigerator, storage and freshness of the products are also decisive for the shelf life.

Offenbach - Especially when it comes to pasta and rice, it is easy to misjudge the amount and cook too much. What is left over after eating goes straight to the refrigerator . How long these foods can be kept there, however, varies. There are also a few things to consider when it comes to meat , fish and boiled potatoes . Because while some foods are edible for a few days, others only last a short time.

According to the Federal Center for Nutrition, the cell metabolism slows down in food that is stored in the refrigerator at temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. “Microorganisms grow more slowly and enzymatic and chemical spoilage is delayed,” says the website. However, the refrigerator is intended more for short-term storage of food , because fresh food will also go bad here at some point. Bacteria, yeast or mold can spread.

Storing food in the refrigerator: how long can food be kept?

In addition to meat and meat products , the refrigerator should also store fish and fish products, prepared meals, milk and dairy products, cheese, drinks, butter, eggs, jams, dressings, sauces, tubes, and refrigerator-compatible types of fruit and vegetables. For meat , it is especially to be careful because it is one of the perishable foods . Chopped up meat, such as goulash and sliced ​​meat, as well as fresh sausage or meat skewers should only be stored in bowls covered for one day in the refrigerator (0 to 4 degrees) according to the Federal Center for Nutrition.

The same goes for offal , which should only stay in the refrigerator for up to a day. The longest shelf life is raw beef or raw veal with three to four days. Raw pork should not be stored there for more than two to three days. Fried or prepared meat also lasts two to three days. Raw minced meat should be consumed the same day. In the case of minced meat in a protective atmosphere, the use-by date must be observed. Minced meat should also always be stored in the coldest place in the refrigerator (2 to 4 degrees). Fresh chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for one to two days (0 to 4 degrees).

Cooked pasta will keep longer in the refrigerator than cooked rice, for example. (Symbol image)

© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Shelf life of fish, eggs and milk in the refrigerator: tips for storage

Fresh fish does not last very long in the refrigerator either; it can be stored in the refrigerator for one day. Smoked fish, on the other hand, can stay in the refrigerator for up to three days. Fresh mussels are also perishable and only keep for one day, crabs and prawns for around one or two days. In the case of raw eggs , it is advisable to store them in the door compartment of the refrigerator, where they will last about four weeks from the date of laying. Boiled eggs should still be edible after two to four weeks.

With side dishes, cooked noodles keep the longest in the refrigerator . They can be stored there for up to three to four days and are still edible. Potatoes can be kept for a maximum of three days. Cooked rice only lasts for two days because, being a starchy food, it is susceptible to bacteria. Raw milk can be kept in the refrigerator for about a day, and long-life milk for about four to a maximum of six days after opening. In general, the following should be observed when storing food in the refrigerator:

• Put the groceries away immediately after shopping
• Cooked dishes should be placed in the refrigerator immediately after cooling
• Food should be packed well in the refrigerator, this also protects against changes in taste
• Fish and meat should always be stored in the lower area of ​​the refrigerator, dairy products above
• Cheese and leftovers go in the top of the refrigerator, fruit and vegetables go in the vegetable drawer
• When reheating, the food should be heated to 70 degrees for at least two minutes

How long can food be kept in the refrigerator: Try and check the food

You can always tell whether a food is still good in the refrigerator by how it looks or smells. By trying a small amount first, you can find out about the shelf life. If it smells unpleasant , if there is mold or if the color, consistency or taste are significantly different, they belong in the trash. By the way, not every food belongs in the refrigerator, some are not allowed in at all. (svw)

List of rubric lists: © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa