*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Hot Pockets are a lunchtime favorite for many reasons. Not only do they come in a variety of options but they are frozen and can be heated quickly in a microwave. This is easy and convenient as well as delicious.
Since Hot Pockets are purchased in the freezer section of the grocery store, they are usually stored in the freezer at your home, too. But, can Hot Pockets be kept in the fridge?
It is not recommended to store Hot Pockets in the fridge. Although it is safe to keep this food in the fridge for a couple of days, Hot Pockets are meant to stay frozen.
Hot Pockets should always be stored in the freezer. These meals are supposed to be heated directly out of the freezer and there is no need for thawing either. For one reason or another, if you decide you want to thaw your Hot Pockets, you can put it in the fridge for a few hours. Once it is defrosted, you must cook it right away.
Hot Pockets contain meat and cheese which are both perishable food items and won’t keep for very long in the fridge.
Leaving a Hot Pocket sitting in a fridge increases the risk for bacteria to form and it simply won’t last for more than a few days. So, for best results from this lunch or snack favorite, don’t keep them in the fridge. Keep Hot Pockets in the freezer where they are supposed to be stored.
How Long Can You Keep Hot Pockets In The Fridge?
There are a variety of Hot Pockets that are available for you to purchase. At the grocery store you decide to pick some up and bought a whole box of pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets. You take one out and put the box into the freezer.
Wanting to thaw this one, you place it in the fridge to eat in a few hours. We know that they shouldn’t be stored in the fridge long-term, so, how long can you keep Hot Pockets in the fridge?
Most food is safe to keep in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days. You can keep Hot Pockets in the fridge for that amount of time as well although it is not recommended to do so. Hot Pockets are best when cooked from a frozen state.
First of all, you don’t have to thaw Hot Pockets but if for some reason if you want to, you can put them in the fridge until they are thawed only leaving them there for a few, short hours and immediately cooking them. Hot Pockets don’t really go bad if they are kept in a freezer but if in a refrigerator they will only last for a few days.
Just like most food kept in a refrigerator, you should toss Hot Pockets if they have been stored in the fridge for longer than 3 or 4 days. An expired Hot Pocket will show some specific signs that it is old such as a bad smell or taste.
This means that it is old. Discoloration or a change in the way it looks as well as a change in texture is a sign that the Hot Pocket has gone bad. It will be slimy or sticky and even have mold growth.
You can get sick from eating bad Hot Pockets. Now, I know that if they stay frozen, Hot Pockets will actually last for quite a while. Of course, you don’t want to save them forever, but you reduce the chance of them going bad when they are frozen.
Once they are thawed, you should cook and eat these frozen sandwich meals immediately. So, don’t store Hot Pockets in the fridge and if you have only leave them there for a short time.
Do Hot Pockets Ever Go Bad?
Stored in the freezer and able to be heated up quickly for you to enjoy, Hot Pockets are great for a midday snack or even a kids school lunch. They are easy to heat up and many enjoy the different options of meat and cheese they are available in.
Hot Pockets are frozen until you want to heat them up and you can heat them using a microwave, toaster oven, or oven. Since they are kept in the freezer, you may wonder, do Hot Pockets ever go bad?
If properly stored in the freezer, Hot Pockets should last almost indefinitely. However, over time they will start to lose some quality and not taste as good. So, eventually Hot Pockets can go bad but to keep them good as long as possible store them in the freezer instead of the fridge.
All food goes bad. Over time, it decomposes and although some food may not be spoiled after a certain amount of time, they don’t taste as good anymore. Hot Pockets are supposed to be stored in the freezer and are able to be heated straight out of the freezer, too. If put in the fridge, it will only stay good for about 3 to 4 days until it goes bad.
One of these microwavable meals will go bad after about 4 hours if kept at room temperature.
But, when properly stored in the freezer, Hot Pockets can last for 6 to 12 months. When not kept in the freezer, they will go bad. If you want to keep them good, freeze Hot Pockets.
Legally, Hot Pockets have to come with expiration dates. But, in doing some research, it seems that Hot Pockets last far past this date if they are stored correctly. To prevent them from spoiling, store Hot Pockets in the freezer or they will go bad.
Final Thoughts
Hot Pockets shouldn’t be kept in the fridge. They are meant to be frozen and cooked right out of the freezer. Plus, keeping them in the freezer will help them stay good for longer.
In the fridge these meals of meat and cheese will go bad after a few days. If you want to thaw them in the fridge, you can only keep them there until they are defrosted and they must be cooked right away.
Hot Pockets usually last far past their expiration if they are stored in the freezer. But, if not properly stored, this favorite lunch and snack will go bad. So, to keep Hot Pockets good then as stated by their manufacturer, don’t keep them in the fridge and freeze them instead.