ShelfLife
How long does potato salad last?
Potato salad and pasta salad keep 3 to 5 days in the fridge, store-bought or homemade. Egg salad and chicken salad keep 3 to 4 days. The USDA doesn't recommend freezing any of them.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Potato salad | 3–5 days | Not recommended |
| Pasta salad | 3–5 days | Not recommended |
| Egg salad | 3–4 days | Not recommended |
| Chicken salad | 3–4 days | Not recommended |
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 potato salad has gone bad
- A sour or off smell, different from the tang of the dressing.
- A watery, separated or slimy dressing.
- Mold, or a salad left out for more than 2 hours. Spoiled salad can look and smell normal, so go by the time.
How to store potato salad
- Refrigerate homemade salads as soon as they're made, in a sealed container, and keep the potatoes or pasta cold before mixing.
- Don't leave salads out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 32 °C (90 °F). At picnics, keep the bowl set in ice.
- Serve with a clean spoon and put the rest back in the fridge straight away.
Can you freeze potato salad?
No, the USDA doesn't recommend it. Mayonnaise separates, potatoes turn grainy and watery, and eggs turn rubbery. Make smaller batches instead.
Questions
Is it the mayonnaise that makes potato salad risky?
Not mainly. Commercial mayonnaise is acidic; the risk comes from cooked potatoes, eggs, meat and handling, which let bacteria grow when the salad sits warm.
How long can potato salad sit out?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 32 °C (90 °F). After that, throw it out.
How long does store-bought potato salad last once opened?
3 to 5 days, and never past the date on the container.
Add prepared salads to ShelfLife when you make or open them.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.