How long does Meat Sauce last in the Fridge?

The meat sauce is fantastic to accompany pasta. Who doesn’t love a good Bolognese pasta? That’s it! Having the sauce prepared in advance will allow you to taste this dish more quickly. But how long does meat sauce last in the fridge and freezer? How should we keep this sauce for it to last longer? That’s what we’ll see here! 

Nowadays, the time we have is always minimal. The work, the kids, the house… Everything takes up too much time for us. So, if we want to save a few minutes in the kitchen, having early meals is the most crucial step. 

In the case of pasta, it is very easy to save time. Cooking pasta takes only 10 minutes. What takes longer are the sauces. But it is possible to get around this situation by making the meat sauce in larger doses and then saving it for use in other meals. 

This article will show you how to store this sauce and how long it keeps its best quality in the fridge and freezer. 

Have a look!

How long does Meat Sauce last in the Fridge and Freezer?

The good news we bring you today is that the meat sauce has a long duration, both in the fridge and in the freezer. So if you want to use the sauce for your next meal, just store it in the refrigerator. However, if you’re going to save it for longer, it’s best to keep it in the freezer. 

See how long the meat sauce lasts in the fridge and freezer on the table below.

	Room Temperature	Fridge	Freezer
Homemade Meat Sauce	Up to 2 hours	3-4 days	4-6 months
Thawed Meat Sauce	Up to 2 hours	3-4 days	Do not refreeze thawed meat sauce
Canned Meat Sauce	Up to 2 hours	2-3 weeks	6-8 months

At room temperature, the meat sauce lasts up to 2 hours. After that, food begins to deteriorate rapidly at room temperature, as higher temperatures lead to the proliferation of bacteria. 

In this sense, we should avoid keeping the food out of the fridge for a long time (maximum of two hours). Instead, food should be stored in the refrigerator immediately or within 1 hour at most on warmer days.  

The meat sauce lasts 3 to 4 days (including thawed sauce) in the refrigerator. So, if you want to have some meals during the week with this sauce, you can advance the meals by saving the sauce. 

You can also freeze this sauce if you want to save it for later. It lasts between 4 to 6 months with high quality. 

You must follow a few rules when saving this sauce so it lasts all this time. Later, in this article, we’ll show you how to store the meat sauce in the fridge and freezer. 

How long does Meat Sauce last after being thawed?

Thawed meat sauce cannot be refrozen. It lasts up to two hours at room temperature, and in the refrigerator lasts 3 to 4 days. However, these deadlines are only valid when we thaw the sauce by placing it in the fridge until it is completely thawed. 

If you thaw it in the microwave or cold water, you should immediately use the sauce. Do not store it for later (or in the fridge).

That’s because thawing in the microwave or cold water accelerates the process of food deterioration and propitiates the growth of bacteria that can be harmful to our health. So in that sense, if you want to thaw the sauce to store it for later, you must do it in the fridge. 

How long does Canned Meat Sauce last in the Fridge?

If you bought the canned meat sauce already marinated, it could last several weeks in the fridge. We recommend that you consume within 2 to 3 weeks. However, at room temperature, it does not last long. It is likely that it no longer tastes like fresh sauce after a few days. 

That doesn’t mean the sauce has spoiled. But its quality in terms of taste is not good. 

How to Store Meat Sauce long term in the Fridge?

For your meat sauce to last longer with quality, following a few rules when storing it is essential. 

Place the sauce in covered airtight containers (you can use aluminum foil) and then store it in the fridge. Place it in a covered airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bags if you want to freeze it. 

You must ensure that the temperature of the freezer is constantly at 0°F. You can keep your meat sauce for 4 to 6 months. 

You mustn’t keep your sauce at room temperature for long. In addition to losing its taste, you risk getting your sauce spoiled. 

How to Freeze Meat Sauce?

Although most people use the meat sauce as soon as it’s ready, you may want to save it for use other times. In this case, the best option is to freeze the sauce. The meat sauce freezes well and maintains its quality for 4-6 months, allowing you always to have sauce to make meals. 

To make the sauce last longer, place it in rigid freezer-safe containers. Then, place only the dose you usually use to cook a meal in each container. This way, you’ll always have individual amounts to use daily. 

You should leave at least 1/2 inch of space at the top of the container. That’s because the sauce expands when it freezes. This ensures that the container remains tightly closed and the sauce will maintain its quality. 

Before closing the containers, stir the sauce to eliminate possible air bubbles. Do not freeze the sauce still hot. Instead, allow it to cool for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and close the container. Then put the containers in the freezer. 

How to Thaw Frozen Meat Sauce?

To thaw your quality meat sauce, you should put it in the fridge overnight. Although you can thaw it in the microwave or cold water, the quality doesn’t look good, and if you do, you must use it immediately. 

So, when you’re thinking about having a meal with the meat sauce, remove it from the freezer the night before and put it in the fridge. 

How to reheat Meat Sauce?

If you kept your meat sauce in the fridge and want to use it now, you can reheat it in three different ways. You can do it on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven. Let’s see how you do it!

1. Stove – Place the sauce in a saucepan and heat on the stove over medium heat. Stir in from time to time, so the sauce does not paste to the bottom of the pan. The sauce will thicken a little. You can add some milk or broth if you want the sauce to become more liquid. 
2. Microwave – Place the sauce on a plate that can go to the microwave and add a tablespoon of milk or broth. Then microwave at high power for 90 seconds. Next, stir the sauce and then microwave for another 15 seconds. 
3. Oven – Place the sauce on a plate that can go to the oven and cover it with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 ºF for 15-20 minutes. 

How do you know when Meat Sauce goes Bad?

The meat sauce can be spoiled if it is at room temperature for more than 2 hours or if you store it for a long time in the fridge. So, it’s essential to determine if the sauce is spoiled. 

You should discard the sauce if it presents: 

• Mold
• Strange and sour taste
• Unusual appearance
• Different odor

Traditional Italian Meat Sauce

Conclusion

The meat sauce can be used in different dishes and is a favorite of American families. Often, as the time is short to cook, having the sauce already cooked can be an excellent option. 

But for the sauce to always be tasty, it is vital to keep our sauce in optimal condition and follow all the steps we have taken throughout this article. 

You should pay attention to the shelf life of the meat sauce to make sure you always eat the sauce with quality and it is not spoiled. 

We hope you enjoyed our article: “How long does Meat Sauce last in the Fridge?”. We look forward to our upcoming articles with other valuable tips for the kitchen. 

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