Seafood is a great way to get protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and a lot of other important nutrients. But it needs to be handled and stored in the right way. Also, seafood is more likely to go bad quickly and contaminate other foods if it isn’t handled properly, making it more perishable than other foods. So, how long can you keep seafood in the fridge?
The truth is that the shelf life of each species is different. Most fish and seafood tastes best and is freshest in the first two days after it is caught. The Food and Drug Administration also says that fresh seafood like fish, shrimp, scallops, and squid can only be kept in the fridge for one to two days.
Let’s find out more about how long different kinds of cooked and uncooked seafood can stay fresh.
How long can seafood be kept in the refrigerator?
Fish and crustaceans
The USDA says that fish and shellfish should only be kept in the fridge for one or two days before being cooked or frozen (40 °F or less). Seafood should be kept in the fridge for three to four days after it has been cooked.
Seafood that has been frozen can be kept for a long time without going bad, but the taste and texture will get worse over time. For best quality, cooked fish should be frozen at 0 °F or -17.8 °C for up to three months. Raw fish should be eaten within 3–8 months, and shellfish should be eaten within 3–12 months. Don’t leave fish out for more than two hours.
Fresh Oysters I Just Shucked
Fresh oysters that have been shucked are the most popular shellfish because they have a lot of minerals that are high in zinc. After being opened, oysters can be kept in the fridge for 3–5 days, or they can be frozen. If you take the oysters out of their shells before freezing them, you can keep them for up to three months.
Spot prawns
You can keep spot prawns in the fridge for up to three days before cooking them. If you won’t be able to cook them within three days, choose the whole frozen spot prawns.
Spot prawns can be bought frozen and flash-frozen at sea. This means that you can keep them in your freezer for up to a year. If you serve it soon after it has thawed, it is less likely to go bad.
Octopus
Fresh octopus will stay fresh for less than three days in the fridge. So, you can either make it in a day or put it in the freezer for up to two months. The cooked octopus, on the other hand, can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.
But if you choose octopus that was flash-frozen at sea, you can keep it in your freezer for up to nine months without losing flavour or quality.
Scallops and Shrimps
Scallops and shrimp can be kept in the fridge for two days if they are in a container that is tightly sealed. If you are not going to eat them within two days, it is best to freeze them. They keep their taste, quality, and freshness for about six months. Cooked shrimp can stay in the fridge for up to three days.
How long can seafood that has been cooked stay in the fridge?
The USDA says that fish and other seafood that has been properly cooked can be kept in the fridge for up to four days. Refrigeration can slow down the growth of bacteria, but it can’t stop it completely.
Because of this, it is important to make sure that food is eaten within the allotted time before it goes bad or could be harmful to your health.
How long can seafood chowder be kept in the refrigerator?
Fish chowder will keep in the fridge for three to four days after it has been cooked. Once fish chowder is cooked, it can be frozen for a long time in airtight containers or strong freezer bags.
How long can fish chowder be kept in the freezer after it has been cooked? Even after being stored for longer than the best quality period of 4 to 6 months, the product is still safe to eat.
Fish chowder that was thawed in the fridge can be kept for another three to four days before it needs to be reheated. Fish chowder that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water, on the other hand, should be eaten right away.
How long will boiled seafood last in the refrigerator?
Your seafood boil can stay in the refrigerator for up to two days. As soon as the seafood boil is done cooking, it should be cooled down and put in the fridge until it’s time to eat. Putting it in an ice bath or adding ice cubes is the best way to cool it down quickly.
How long can seafood salad stay in the refrigerator?
If you put seafood salad in a container that doesn’t let air in, you can keep it in the fridge for up to four days. But this salad shouldn’t be put in the freezer. Since it’s made with mayonnaise, the dish will have a weird texture once it’s defrosted.