Leftovers Safe-Until Date Calculator (USDA Guidelines)
Defaults to today. Change it to see whether a dish will still be good for a meal later in the week.
Safety rules that always apply
- The 2-hour rule: do not leave perishable food out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if the air is above 90°F. If it sat out longer, throw it out.
- Cool it fast: divide leftovers into shallow containers so they chill quickly.
- Reheat to 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. Bring gravies, sauces and soups to a rolling boil.
- Do not use smell or taste as a test. Harmful bacteria usually cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, so food can look and smell fine and still make you sick.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
- Freezing: food kept at 0°F stays safe indefinitely. The freezer times shown here are about quality, not safety.
Rules last verified: October 9, 2026, against the USDA/FDA Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart (March 2018) and USDA FSIS leftovers guidance. Gravy is 1 to 2 days on the chart, shorter than most other leftovers.
This is general food-safety guidance, not medical advice. Pregnant people, older adults, young children and anyone with a weakened immune system are at higher risk from foodborne illness and should be especially careful. Home refrigerators should be at 40°F or below. Check FoodSafety.gov for foods not listed.
Enter what you cooked and when to get the date to eat or throw out your leftovers, plus when to freeze them, using the USDA refrigerator and freezer storage chart and the 2-hour rule.
How it works
- Choose the type of food and the day it was cooked
- Say whether it was refrigerated within 2 hours (1 hour on a hot day)
- Read the discard-by date, the best-by date and when to freeze, and check any later date to plan meals
Frequently asked questions
How long do leftovers last in the refrigerator?
Most cooked leftovers, including turkey, other cooked meat and poultry dishes, soups and stews, are good for 3 to 4 days at 40 degrees F or below, according to the USDA/FDA Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart and USDA FSIS leftovers guidance. Cooked ham slices are also 3 to 4 days. After that, throw them out.
Why is gravy only 1 to 2 days?
The USDA/FDA storage chart lists gravy and meat broth at 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, shorter than most leftovers. Turkey pieces covered with gravy are listed at 3 to 4 days. You can freeze gravy for 2 to 3 months for best quality.
What is the 2-hour rule?
Perishable food should not sit out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90 degrees F, according to USDA FSIS. Food left out longer should be thrown out.
Can I tell if leftovers are bad by smelling them?
No. Harmful bacteria usually cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, so food can smell fine and still cause illness. Use the date and the storage rules, and when in doubt, throw it out.
What temperature should I reheat leftovers to?
165 degrees F measured with a food thermometer. Bring gravies, sauces and soups to a rolling boil.
How long can I freeze leftovers?
Food kept at 0 degrees F stays safe indefinitely, so freezer times on the chart are about quality. Examples: cooked poultry pieces 4 months, covered with gravy 6 months, soups and stews 2 to 3 months, cooked ham 1 to 2 months.
Who is this guidance not enough for?
People at higher risk of foodborne illness, such as pregnant people, older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems, should be especially careful and follow FoodSafety.gov guidance for their group.
Related tools
From the blog
Update history
- 2026-10-09 Launched: leftovers safe-until date calculator with USDA refrigerator and freezer times, the 2-hour rule and a later-date checker.