Chicken Pasta

Homemade chicken pasta lasts around 3-5 days in the refrigerator. The sell-by or expiration date on store-bought chicken pasta usually provides a good guideline, but a safe rule of thumb is that it stays good in the refrigerator for 1-2 days past its printed date when unopened. Once opened, it should be consumed within 2-3 days. If you freeze your chicken pasta, it can last up to 2-3 months. Just remember to always ensure it's properly sealed to avoid freezer burn.

Spoiled chicken pasta is pretty easy to identify. First off, you can rely on your nose. If the pasta smells sour, foul, or somewhat like ammonia, it’s probably bad. Next, look at the texture and color. If it feels slimy or looks dull, darker or excessively dry, then it has likely gone bad. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out!

• Always store your chicken pasta in a sealed container to maintain freshness and avoid contamination. • Try to refrigerate your pasta within two hours of cooking to slow the growth of harmful bacteria. • You can freeze chicken pasta for longer expiration, but it’s best to divide it into meal-sized portions before freezing. That way you only defrost what you need, minimizing waste. • When reheating, make sure the pasta reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F to kill bacteria. Also, it's better to reheat only once. Multiple reheating can affect the texture and flavor. • If you’re cooking pasta in advance, you might want to undercook it slightly. That way, it won’t go mushy when you reheat it.