As part of this short tutorial, we will provide an in-depth investigation of the shelf life of meatloaf in the refrigerator in order to answer the question, “How long can meatloaf keep in the refrigerator?” Furthermore, we will explore many methods of identifying a faulty meatloaf recipe.
So with that said, let’s get right into it and find out more about what we’ve discovered.
How Long Can Meatloaf Stay In the Fridge?
When kept correctly in an airtight container or plastic zipper bag in the refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, cooked meatloaf will keep for about 3–4 days after cooking.
It is advised that meatloaf be stored in shallow containers in order for it to cool evenly and quickly in the fridge. It is always best to keep meatloaf on one of the refrigerator’s shelves rather than on the door since there are many temperature changes near the door of the refrigerator.
It’s important to note that the values in the previous paragraph represent the projected shelf life of meatloaf.
What Is the Optimum Temperature to Store Meatloaf?
Always keep your meatloaf refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Biological growth occurs at a quicker rate between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is always recommended to keep meatloaf at a lower temperature in order to maintain its freshness for an extended period of time after preparation.
How Long Does Meatloaf Last at Room Temperature?
When stored at room temperature, the meatloaf will last for around 2 hours.
In order to avoid contamination of the meatloaf by bacteria, it should not be left out in the open for more than 2 hours. Bacterial growth occurs more rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and therefore, there is a greater likelihood of the meatloaf becoming infected with bacteria if it has been left out for more than 2 hours.
It is also suggested to remove meatloaf that has been left out for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit since the process of deterioration will be accelerated.
How long does meatloaf last in the freezer?
Cooked meatloaf that has been properly preserved will keep for about 3–4 months in the freezer.
It is advised that you place the meatloaf in plastic freezer bags or wrap it in aluminium foil before putting it in the freezer to avoid freezer burns.
As a result, the shelf life of meatloaf improves as a result of the low temperature of the freezer, which prevents microbial development on the meatloaf.
How to thaw frozen meatloaf?
The most suggested method for thawing frozen precooked meatloaf is to place it in the refrigerator overnight and allow it to defrost there, as described above. In this manner, it is possible to keep the meatloaf in the fridge for an additional 3–4 days after it has been thawed.
You may also thaw frozen meatloaf in a basin of cold water, but you should reheat it and use it right away once it has been defrosted.
Furthermore, if you are thawing and reheating the meatloaf in the oven or microwave, it is advised that you consume it as soon as possible.
Different ways to spot bad meatloaf
There are some signs that point to a bad meatloaf.You can determine whether or not your meatloaf has gone bad by looking at the appearance, texture, and smell of the meat loaf itself.
Appearance
This is an indicator that the meatloaf has gone bad if you see any discoloration, mould, or black patches on the surface of the meatloaf. The best thing to do in this situation is toss it.
Texture
If you can feel anything slimy or sticky when you touch the meatloaf, it implies that it has gone bad, since fresh meatloaf has a solid texture, but poor meatloaf has a soft texture.
Smell
Take a sniff test on your meatloaf and see if you can detect any acidic, ammonia-like, or sulfur-like rotten smells. If you can detect any of these smells, your meatloaf has gone bad and you should throw it away.
To make a final determination on whether or not your meatloaf is still appropriate for consumption, you should take into consideration the symptoms outlined above.
Tips to properly store meatloaf
- Keep your meatloaf in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below when it comes to storage.
- It is best practise to keep meatloaf on the shelf of the refrigerator or freezer rather than on the door since there is a great deal of temperature fluctuation at the door of the fridge or freezer while the door is open.
- You should avoid refreezing frozen meatloaf once it has been thawed and is no longer frozen.
You can find instructions on how to prepare meatloaf here.
Conclusion
In this short tutorial, we provide an in-depth investigation of the shelf life of meatloaf in the refrigerator in order to answer the question, “how long does meatloaf last in the fridge.” Furthermore, we explored several methods for identifying substandard meatloaf.
