Food safety is one of the most important aspects of cooking at home. Should you enjoy shrimp a lot, you should know how to keep it fresh when it’s raw and when it’s cooked. So, the last thing you want is for that tasty shrimp to go bad before you can eat it.
In two days, you should either cook or properly freeze the raw shrimp that you have in your fridge. You can freeze or eat shrimp that you cooked up recently up to four days after you cook it. That might sound a little short if you know how long the turf part of surf and turf stays fresh in the fridge.
But because shrimp and cattle live in different environments, shrimp will go bad faster than any land animal, even if they are kept cool. We’ll get into that, plus proper long-term storage practices, and we’ve even got a tasty grilled shrimp recipe. After all, it always comes back to a grill or smoker at some point here at Angry BBQ!.
A bowl of shrimp pasta loaded with tender shrimp, tomatoes, spinach, and coated in a creamy Alfredo sauce is so satisfying. The only problem is it never seems to last long enough! Leftover shrimp pasta is such a treat, so you want to be sure to store it properly for max freshness. But how long will shrimp pasta last in the fridge?
The exact shelf life of shrimp pasta can vary based on the ingredients used. But generally, a shrimp pasta dish made with cooked shrimp and a creamy sauce will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Follow proper storage methods and pay attention for signs of spoilage and you can safely enjoy your leftover shrimp pasta for almost a week!
How to Store Shrimp Pasta in the Fridge
To get the longest fridge life out of cooked shrimp pasta, follow these storage tips:
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Let the pasta cool completely before refrigerating Covering and chilling it quickly prevents harmful bacteria growth
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Transfer the pasta to a shallow airtight container An air-tight lid prevents drying out
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Store shrimp pasta towards the back of the fridge, where temperatures are coldest.
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Keep track of when it was cooked and how long it’s been stored. Write the date on a sticky note on the container.
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Don’t overcrowd the fridge. Too much food causes inconsistent cooling.
Following proper shrimp pasta storage methods like these can extend its fridge life significantly.
How to Tell if Shrimp Pasta has Gone Bad
Although shrimp pasta stored properly can last 3-4 days in the fridge, it’s still important to look for signs of spoilage before eating it. Check for these indications your shrimp pasta has gone bad:
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Unpleasant odors. Gone-off shrimp pasta may smell sour, ammonia-like, or unpleasantly “fishy.” Trust your nose.
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Slimy texture. Quality shrimp pasta should not feel overly slimy. Any slippery or mushy spots indicate spoilage.
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Discoloration. The pasta or sauce may oxidize and darken over time. Be wary of any unusual colors.
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Mold growth. The development of fuzzy mold spots means the pasta is past its prime. When in doubt, throw it out!
Relying on sight, smell and touch are the best ways to gauge whether your stored shrimp pasta is still safe to eat. If anything seems “off,” don’t risk it.
How Long Does Cooked Shrimp Last in the Fridge?
The cooked shrimp mixed into pasta is a main factor determining its total fridge life. Shrimp is highly perishable.
Cooked shrimp lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. So for a shrimp pasta dish, the shelf life is limited by the shrimp’s freshness. Raw shrimp would only last 1-2 days max in the fridge.
It’s important to fully cook shrimp to an internal temperature of 145°F to destroy any harmful bacteria that could cause food poisoning. So leftovers with fully cooked shrimp can keep a bit longer than raw.
How Long Do Cream-Based Sauces Last?
Rich cream-based sauces also impact the total shelf life of a shrimp pasta dish. Dairy products like cream, milk, and cheese can go bad more quickly than plain pasta.
Creamy pasta sauces will stay fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days. So again, the dairy ingredients become the limiting factor for how long pasta with a cream sauce can be stored.
Can You Freeze Shrimp Pasta?
Freezing is a great way to preserve shrimp pasta and extend its shelf life even longer. Most pasta dishes with cooked shrimp freeze well for 2-3 months.
To freeze shrimp pasta:
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Cool pasta completely before freezing.
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Store in air-tight freezer containers, leaving 1-inch headspace.
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Label container with contents and date.
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Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
When ready to eat, thaw shrimp pasta overnight in the fridge. Then reheat gently before serving.
Tips for Reheating Shrimp Pasta
The safest way to reheat shrimp pasta is on the stovetop over low heat. Add a bit of milk, cream, or pasta water to loosen up the sauce.
Microwaving can work too. Reheat shrimp pasta in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until heated through.
Avoid overheating shrimp pasta, as it can quickly dry out, curdle, or turn rubbery. Stop early if shrimps start to toughen.
Storing Leftover Pasta Ingredients
If you have extra leftover shrimp, sauce, or cooked pasta, store them separately in the fridge to maximize freshness.
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Pasta: 3-5 days
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Sauce: 3-4 days
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Cooked shrimp: 3-4 days
Then simply mix together portions when ready to eat again!
FAQs
How can you make shrimp pasta last longer?
Freezing cooked shrimp pasta lets it keep for 2-3 months. Proper refrigeration and airtight storage helps pasta stay fresher longer. Adding lemon juice or vinegar to the sauce can also extend its shelf life.
What happens if you eat bad shrimp pasta?
Eating spoiled shrimp pasta could potentially cause food poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and stomach cramps. So it’s important to toss expired shrimp pasta and not risk getting sick.
Does cooking shrimp pasta kill bacteria?
Proper cooking does destroy any harmful bacteria present in raw shrimp. However, bacterial contamination can still occur after cooking if the shrimp pasta is left at room temperature too long before refrigerating.
Can shrimp pasta be reheated?
Yes, leftover shrimp pasta can be safely reheated using the stove or microwave. Just don’t overcook it. Reheat gently, adding a little liquid to restore moisture if needed.
Should you add shrimp to pasta right before serving?
Yes, adding cooked shrimp to hot pasta right before eating helps prevent overcooking. But chilled leftover shrimp pasta is still fine to reheat as long as you are careful not to toughen the shrimp.
Storing shrimp pasta correctly allows you to safely enjoy the tasty leftovers for up to 4 days. Freeze any extra to make it last even longer. Follow these refrigerator storage tips, check for spoilage, and reheat shrimp pasta carefully for best results.
How Long Is Shrimp Good In The Freezer?
So, you know how to store raw or cooked shrimp. How long can you keep it in the freezer? As long as the freezer stays below 32°F, you can keep shrimp in the freezer forever. However, there is a loss of quality the longer shrimp stays frozen.
For raw shrimp, the USDA recommends using them within 12 months. For cooked shrimp, plan on thawing and eating within three months of when they go in the freezer. To help with the timeframe, label your bags with the date with a permanent marker.
How To Tell If Your Shrimp Has Gone Bad
You’ve tried to follow the directions, but sometimes you just aren’t quite sure. The only way to tell if shrimp is bad is to use your senses. But your taste buds should be the last ones you use, if at all.