How long does cooked pasta last?

Checked 24 Oct 20265 official publishers, 6 sources

Cooked pasta: 3-5 days in the fridge and 1-2 months in the freezer for best quality.

Official stance

“It is not safe to add rice or pasta to any home canned product (i.e.: soup).” Extension

Storage times for cooked pasta by state and place
State	Counter	Fridge 40 °F	Freezer 0 °F
Cooked pasta	2 hours max CDC	3-5 days FoodKeeper	1-2 months best quality FoodKeeper Sources disagree: 6 months Extension
Pasta or macaroni salad	2 hours max CDC	3-5 days FoodKeeper FDA	Not recommended FoodKeeper FDA

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

Source	State	Counter	Fridge	Freezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Cooked pasta	-	3-5 days	1-2 months
Nebraska Extension	Cooked pasta	-	-	6 months
CDC 2025	Cooked pasta	2 hours	-	-
CDC 2025	Pasta or macaroni salad	2 hours	-	-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Pasta or macaroni salad	-	3-5 days	Not recommended
FDA 2018	Pasta or macaroni salad	-	3-5 days	Not recommended

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

“Cook pasta al dente (slightly undercooked). Drain water. Mix in a small amount of oil to keep the pasta from sticking together.” Extension
“Cool pasta before placing in a freezer-safe plastic bag or freezer container to avoid condensation.” Extension
“Frozen pasta can also be thawed overnight in the refrigerator.” Extension
“Drop pasta in boiling water. Heat only until pasta is hot. ... Most all pasta will be reheated in less than 5 minutes.” Extension
“Frozen rice and pasta can be added directly to dishes. This method works best when adding to soups or stews.” Extension
“Cooked macaroni, spaghetti or rice When frozen alone for later use Mushy, tastes warmed over” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper gives cooked pasta 3 to 5 days in the fridge and 1 to 2 months in the freezer.¹

Nebraska Extension, in its guide to freezing rice and pasta, says frozen pasta is best used within 6 months, a longer window than the FoodKeeper freezer time.²¹

To freeze it, Nebraska Extension suggests cooking the pasta al dente, draining it, mixing in a little oil so it does not stick together, and cooling it before bagging to avoid condensation.²

For single servings, it portions about half a cup of cooked pasta onto a baking sheet and freezes it for 15 to 20 minutes before moving it to bags or containers.²

Frozen pasta can be reheated by dropping it into boiling water just until hot, which takes less than 5 minutes for most pasta, or thawed overnight in the fridge.²

It can also go straight from the freezer into soups or stews, where it thaws and heats in the liquid.²

The National Center for Home Food Preservation lists cooked macaroni and spaghetti among foods that do not freeze well when frozen alone for later use, because they turn mushy and taste warmed over.⁶

Pasta salads have their own row: the FDA storage chart gives 3 to 5 days in the fridge for store-prepared or homemade macaroni salads and says not to freeze them, and FoodKeeper gives pasta salad the same 3 to 5 days and does not recommend freezing.⁵⁴

Nebraska Extension warns that it is not safe to add pasta to any home canned product such as soup, because the starch keeps heat from reaching the center of the jar evenly.²

Rules that apply here

The 2-hour rule Freezing and refreezing Reheating to 165 °F Fridge and freezer temperature

Cooked rice Pizza Potato salad

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 177: Cooked pasta. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked pasta. Refrigerate: 3-5 Days; Freeze: 1-2 Months
Freezing Rice and Pasta | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Frozen pasta is best if used within 6 months.Cook pasta al dente (slightly undercooked). Drain water. Mix in a small amount of oil to keep the pasta from sticking together.Cool pasta before placing in a freezer-safe plastic bag or freezer container to avoid condensation.Frozen pasta can also be thawed overnight in the refrigerator.Drop pasta in boiling water. Heat only until pasta is hot. ... Most all pasta will be reheated in less than 5 minutes.Frozen rice and pasta can be added directly to dishes. This method works best when adding to soups or stews.It is not safe to add rice or pasta to any home canned product (i.e.: soup).
Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Never leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if exposed to temperatures above 90°F).
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 420: Pasta salad. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Pasta salad. Refrigerate: 3-5 Days; Freeze: Not Recommended
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Store-prepared (or homemade) egg, chicken, tuna, ham, macaroni salads 3 - 5 daysStore-prepared (or homemade) egg, chicken, tuna, ham, macaroni salads 3 - 5 days Don't freeze
Foods That Do Not Freeze Well - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cooked macaroni, spaghetti or rice When frozen alone for later use Mushy, tastes warmed over