Does Taco Bell Go Bad?

Taco Bell is a go-to fast food restaurant that is well-known for its tacos and burritos. It’s a nice change from all the burger and chicken fast-food chains, and it is open late for a midnight snack! 

From Cinnamon Twists to the Crunchwrap Supreme, Taco Bell is famous for its unique menu options that always seem to hit the spot. As with most highly processed foods, there is a lot of sodium in Taco Bell cuisine that allows it to remain fresh for longer.  

However, just because there is a lot of sodium in Taco Bell’s food does not mean that Taco Bell will never expire. 

Taco Bell food will still, at some point, go bad. However, it should still be good to eat up to 3-5 days after purchase if refrigerated properly. 

Mold, bacteria, and unwanted yeasts will grow on food that ages. The only thing that will completely eliminate this process is freezing food and in some cases, canning food. 

How Long Does Taco Bell Last In The Fridge?

If you are going to store Taco Bell long-term, you should definitely store it in the fridge. How long Taco Bell will last in the fridge is dependent on what is actually on your food item. 

Meat from Taco Bell will last typically around 3-5 days in the fridge. If there is lettuce or guacamole on the taco it will lose its taste and texture faster. 

Both of these food items will not keep their flavor or texture for nearly as long as the meat, and they should only be trusted for 2-3 days. 

You have to use your own discernment, but in general, Taco Bell food should be good for 3-5 days in the fridge. 

A Crunchwrap or crunchy taco from Taco Bell will not become unsafe to eat within those time frames, but they will lose most of their appeal. Crunchy tacos quickly lose their signature flavor and become stale and unappealing in the fridge. 

A soft shell taco or burrito will still have decent flavor and quality for a bit longer. 

What Is The Best Way To Store Taco Bell In The Fridge?

Just like with any perishable food, the more protected your food is the better.  

You should store your Taco Bell meal in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil to ensure the best taste and texture. 

You should definitely not just let your burrito or taco sit in your fridge in the wrapper from Taco Bell. At the very least, you should keep it in the paper wrap that it comes in from Taco Bell and then put it into an airtight bag or container. 

This will at least ensure some sort of way to keep the ingredients preserved. 

How To Make Taco Bell Last Longer

If you are planning on keeping your Taco Bell meal for a couple of days, and you want it to taste fresh there are a few things that you can do to make it taste better for longer. 

To make your Taco Bell food last longer you should remove the things on the taco or burrito that will go bad first such as lettuce, guacamole, or sour cream. This way your food will be less perishable since cheese and meat are generally more shelf-stable and will last longer. 

As previously stated, it is always a good idea to store your food in a container and in the fridge. These two things will also help your Taco Bell last longer. 

How To Tell If Fast Food Is Still Good To Eat?

Before you eat any food, you should make sure that it is not expired before eating it. You might be wondering how you can know if food is still good to eat. 

To know whether fast food is still alright to be eaten there are three main things you will want to look for; color, smell, and taste. 

For color, you will want to visually judge if the food looks normal and safe to eat. If the meat has a grayish color or your lettuce is brown, those are sure signs to skip eating that item for lunch. 

As far as smell, this one is pretty obvious. If food smells like it’s bad…it probably is. Take your food out of its container, and smell it before you eat it. You might think the food is still good, but you will change your mind when you smell a foul odor. 

Lastly, you can judge the freshness of your food by eating it. After you have done the previous steps, you should eat a little bit of the food in question. Only eat the food if it has been stored at the proper temperature, is not past its expiration date, and has passed all other tests. 

Do not eat food that has not been properly stored. 

This way, you can make one final assessment of the food before eating a full serving of it. If the food you are eating tastes “off” in any way, it is absolutely not worth risking sickness. 

Is It Safe To Eat Taco Bell Left Out Overnight?

Taco Bell has a reputation of being perfect for a late-night snack. Well, let’s say you got that late-night snack a little too late, and you accidentally left your meal sitting out overnight. Is it still safe to eat?

You should never eat cooked food that has not been refrigerated for over two hours. This is true for Taco Bell or any other fast or fresh food. 

When food is not stored in refrigeration, it causes a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty bacteria that can cause sickness. The food may look and smell fine, but without proper storage, it is not safe to eat. 

What Is The Best Way To Heat Up Old Taco Bell?

Now, let’s say you have a day-old burrito that you want to heat up before you eat it. Some people will prefer just eating the Taco Bell meal cold right out of the fridge, but others will want it to be warmed up. 

Before you heat up your taco or burrito, you will want to see what ingredients are on your Taco Bell meal. Make sure you remove any food that you won’t want to be heated up such as lettuce, tomatoes, or cheese. 

After you’ve done that, you can either warm up the food in the microwave, oven or air fryer. The oven and air fryer are the options that will give you the best taste and texture. 

Final Thoughts

Just like with any perishable food, Taco Bell can go bad and cause sickness. You should always follow proper safety precautions while determining whether or not food has expired. 

So, the next time you order a little too much Taco Bell, you now know that you can store the extra food in your fridge for up to 3-5 days before it is unsafe to eat. 

However, if it is a crunchy shelled taco you will likely want to change it out for a soft shell or throw it away entirely after a day or two as a crunchy shelled taco won’t be very tasty after sitting in the fridge for long.