ShelfLife
How long does fish last in the fridge?
Raw fish, fatty or lean, keeps only 1 to 2 days in the fridge after you buy it. Cooked fish keeps 3 to 4 days. In the freezer, fatty fish like salmon keeps its quality 2 to 3 months, lean fish like cod 6 to 8 months.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Raw fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel) | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 2–3 monthsfrom purchase |
| Raw lean fish (cod, haddock, sole) | 1–2 daysfrom purchase | 6–8 monthsfrom purchase |
| Cooked fish | 3–4 days | 1–2 months |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if fish has gone bad
- A strong fishy, sour or ammonia smell. Fresh fish smells mild, like the sea.
- Slimy, milky flesh, or flesh that stays dented when pressed instead of springing back.
- Dull, sunken, cloudy eyes and gray or brown gills on a whole fish.
- Dry, discolored edges or dark spots on fillets.
How to store fish
- Buy fish last, keep it cold on the way home, and put it in the coldest part of the fridge straight away.
- Keep it in its wrapping, on a plate, on the bottom shelf so juices can't drip onto other food.
- Cook or freeze it within 1 to 2 days.
- Refrigerate cooked fish within 2 hours in a closed container.
Can you freeze fish?
Yes. Wrap it tightly in plastic, then foil or a freezer bag, with as little air as possible. Fatty fish keeps its best quality for 2 to 3 months because its oils go rancid; lean fish keeps 6 to 8 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, or in its sealed bag in cold water, and cook it the same day. Many fillets can also be cooked straight from frozen.
Questions
What temperature should fish be cooked to?
63 °C (145 °F), or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork.
How long does cooked salmon last?
3 to 4 days in the fridge in a closed container, and 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Eat it cold in salads or reheat it gently.
Can you refreeze thawed fish?
If it was thawed in the fridge and is still within 1 to 2 days, yes, although it gets drier and softer. Cooking it first and freezing the cooked fish keeps the quality better.
Add fish to ShelfLife the day you buy it, and get a reminder before its 2 days are up.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.