A classic lunchtime snack or meal, tuna salad is an economical and versatile option. Most of the time, mayonnaise is used, but you can easily use Greek yogurt, hummus, or avocado instead. You can also add crunchy vegetables like celery and onions. You can make your tuna salad even better by adding spicy foods like dill or lemon pepper or sweet foods like relish. It tastes great on its own, in a lettuce wrap, on a sandwich, or with crackers. Its no wonder that many people often make a large batch of it at a time.
Worry about how to tell when leftover food starts to go bad is common for all kinds of food, including tuna salad. Wasted food can make you sick. Symptoms of food poisoning from eating bad tuna salad can include vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. You can tell if tuna salad has gone bad in a number of ways, such as by looking at it or smelling it. You can also find out how long tuna salad is good for.
Tuna fish salad is one of my go-to easy lunches. I like to make a big batch on Sundays to have tasty sandwiches, wraps, or lettuce cups ready to grab throughout the busy work week.
But there’s nothing worse than biting into a tuna sandwich only to realize the tuna has gone bad. Yuck!
So how long does tuna salad stay fresh in the fridge? When does it start growing bacteria and become unsafe to eat?
In this article, I’ll share the shelf life for tuna fish salad and signs that it has spoiled so you can avoid getting sick. Let’s dive in!
Overview of Tuna Fish Salad
Let’s start with a quick refresher on what tuna salad is made of:
- Tuna – either canned chunk light or canned albacore tuna, already cooked
- Mayonnaise – adds creaminess and binds ingredients
- Onion – adds crunch and flavor
- Celery – another crunchy addition with fresh flavor
- Seasonings – salt, pepper, lemon juice, mustard, etc.
Some folks also add extras like pickles, eggs, or cheese to jazz up their tuna salad recipe. But the core ingredients are tuna, mayo, onions, and celery.
The tuna and mayonnaise do most of the heavy lifting for flavor and moisture. But the veggies add nice texture and freshness.
Now let’s look at how long this classic combo stays safe to eat in the fridge
Shelf Life of Tuna Fish Salad
According to the USDA Food Safety guidelines, tuna salad made with mayonnaise can be stored for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
The key is keeping tuna salad chilled at 40°F or below. Some important fridge tips:
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Store tuna salad in an airtight container, not just a bowl covered in plastic wrap.
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Place the container on a lower shelf near the back where temps are coldest.
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Only open the fridge when necessary to maintain the cold air inside.
Follow those steps, and your tuna salad should comfortably last 3 to 5 days. But what happens after day 5?
How Can You Tell if Tuna Salad has Gone Bad?
Tuna salad can look and smell fine even after it starts growing dangerous bacteria. So you can’t rely on appearance and odor alone to determine if it’s gone bad.
Watch out for these signs that tuna salad is past its prime and should be tossed:
1. Slimy Texture
Fresh tuna salad should have a creamy, spoonable texture. If it becomes slippery, slimy, or mushy, that indicates spoilage. Toss it!
2. Mold Growth
If you see any fuzz, spots, or discoloration from mold, don’t take risks. Mold spores spread quickly. Discard all of the tuna salad to be safe.
3. Off Flavors
While smell can be misleading, taste is a better indicator. If your tuna salad has soured, bitter, or “off” flavors, it has likely spoiled. Spit it out and throw it away.
4. Past 5 Days in Fridge
No matter how good tuna salad looks or smells, it’s not worth eating past the 5 day mark refrigerated. Sticking to this timeline is better than playing food poisoning roulette.
Trust your eyes, nose, AND the calendar to determine if your tuna salad has gone bad.
Does Frozen Tuna Salad Last Longer?
Freezing tuna salad extends its shelf life, but comes with trade-offs in taste and texture.
The mayonnaise tends to separate when thawed, making the salad watery. Onions and celery also get mushy compared to their crisp fresh state.
If you don’t mind these changes, tuna salad can safely stay frozen for 1 to 2 months. Make sure to seal it in an airtight container with minimal air before freezing.
For best flavor, I recommend only making enough tuna salad to eat within a week. But freezing works in a pinch if you need longer storage.
Tips to Make Your Tuna Salad Last
Want your tuna salad to stay fresher, longer in the fridge? Here are my best tips:
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Use airtight storage – Lidded plastic containers keep air out better than plastic wrap or zip-top bags.
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Chill thoroughly before storing – Let tuna salad cool in the fridge before sealing in an airtight container.
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Use fresh ingredients – Old tuna, mayo, and veggies shorten shelf life. Check expiration dates.
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Add lemon juice – The acidity helps slow bacterial growth. Add fresh lemon juice or vinegar to your salad.
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Store where it’s coldest – Place tuna salad at the back of the bottom shelf.
Follow those fridge best practices, and your tuna salad should stay delicious for 3 to 5 days!
The Verdict on Tuna Salad Fridge Life
So how long does tuna fish salad last in the fridge? The shelf life is 3 to 5 days maximum if stored properly at 40°F or colder in an airtight container.
Signs that tuna salad has gone bad include mold, slimy texture, sour flavor, or being past the 5 day limit. For longer storage, freeze tuna salad up to 1-2 months.
I hope these tips help you avoid serving spoiled tuna salad to your family and friends! Trust your eyes, nose, and the timeline to decide when it’s time to toss out that bowl of
Look for visual clues
One way to tell if your tuna salad has gone bad is to look for any changes in appearance. If you see any signs of mold or any green, brown, or dark spots on your tuna salad, then you should toss it out without even tasting it. Although it is possible to salvage some moldy items, like certain hard cheeses, cured meats, and fruits, by cutting off the moldy parts, tuna salad is not one of them, as you may not be able to see the mold spores that could have contaminated the other portions of the tuna salad.
If you see any sign of mold, dont sniff the tuna salad either, as that can cause respiratory issues from inhaling the mold, per the USDA, which also recommends keeping food items covered, even when being served, to prevent mold spores from spreading. So dont leave your tuna salad out uncovered for any length of time, and remember to promptly refrigerate it, ideally in an airtight container.
Most of the time, food that is going bad smells bad because microbes like bacteria and mold that are growing in it are making chemicals that make the food smell bad. With just your nose, it might be hard to tell if tuna or tuna salad has gone bad because of how strong the smell is to begin with. Of course, if you open your leftover tuna salad and smell something fishy, funky, or otherwise off, you should probably throw it away right away because it has gone bad.
Just because the tuna salad doesnt smell off doesnt mean that it hasnt spoiled or gone bad. According to Tufts Now, many microbes that cause food-borne illnesses dont actually give off a noticeable smell when they start growing in food, so dont take the absence of smell as a definitive indicator that your tuna salad is still good.
How long is tuna salad good for?
According to the USDA, tuna salad, assuming it has been stored properly in the fridge at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, is good for 3 to 5 days before it starts to spoil. Its important to refrigerate any leftover tuna salad promptly. Dont let it sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour when its more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit out). Using an airtight container will keep your tuna salad fresher for longer, and also wont let smells in or out. You should also store the tuna salad in the coldest part of your fridge, and not in the door.
Most of the time, tuna salad doesn’t freeze well because it’s made with mayonnaise, which separates when frozen. Crunchy items like veggies can also lose their crunch and become mushy once frozen. If you made your tuna salad with simple ingredients and mayo substitutes that work better when frozen, like yogurt or hummus, you may be able to freeze it and use it later. You can freeze tuna in a can by itself for up to three months. Yogurt can be frozen for up to two months, and hummus for up to four months.
How long will tuna salad stay good refrigerated?
How long is tuna salad good for?
Lastly, recall that tuna salad is only good for 3 to 5 days when stored properly in the fridge. It’s best to label your tuna salad container when storing leftovers so you know when those 3 to 5 days are up. If your tuna salad has exceeded that timeframe, even if there are no other signs of spoilage present, you need to throw it out.
How much tuna fish can one eat in a day?
You need to consume about 50~60g of protein a day. Tuna contains about 20g of protein per 100g, so eating 300g would be an adequate amount.
Does tuna salad need to be refrigerated?
It is important to store tuna salad in an airtight container in the fridge to slow down the growth of bacteria. If the tuna salad has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours, it should be discarded to avoid any risk of foodborne illness. Can You Freeze Tuna Salad?
How long does a frozen tuna salad sandwich last?
Frozen sandwiches should be eaten within one to 3 months of freezing to enjoy them at their best. If you would like some more tips on sandwich freezing, please click here. Following the USDA guidelines, the tuna salad will last for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge if being stored at temperature of 40°F or below.