How Long Is Fried Fish Good In The Refrigerator?

Last updated on October 2nd, 2022 at 05:05 am

Fish has been eaten by many for centuries all around the world. They are high in nutrients and are very healthy to eat. 

When you are storing fish, it is important to store it correctly. You should always refrigerate fish whether it is raw or cooked. 

You can cook fish in many ways but in this article we will be discussing fried fish. Fried fish will go bad even if it is stored in the fridge and it should be eaten within a certain amount of time. Just like all other foods, fish can spoil and go bad. 

But, that’s what our refrigerators are for! 

However, even when it is stored in the cold temperatures of the fridge, fish can spoil. So, how long is fried fish good for in the refrigerator?

Leftover fried fish is good for 3 days in the fridge after it has been cooked. After this amount of time, it should be tossed. If you eat bad fish, it can make you very sick so as a general rule, only store cooked fish in the fridge for about 3 days.

Fried fish will last for about 3 days in the fridge. If it is kept in the fridge for any longer than this, it shouldn’t be eaten and should be discarded. 

Let’s say that you went out to eat and ordered some fried fish. After enjoying every bite you were too full to finish the rest and so you brought the remaining fish home to eat later. Or perhaps, you fried some fish at home. After your hard work you were impressed by how yummy it tasted. 

Not being able to eat any more, you decide to save the leftovers. 

In both cases, you should put the fish into the refrigerator to eat another day. Well, within 3 days to be exact. You shouldn’t store leftover fried fish for longer than 3 days because it will spoil. So, be sure you eat it within the next couple days after storing it in the fridge. 

According to the USDA, cooked fish and other seafood can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. After this, they are unsafe to eat. Refrigeration slows down bacterial growth in fish but it doesn’t prevent it. It is important to use the food within the recommended amount for time before it is spoiled or becomes dangerous to consume.

By properly storing the fish, you can help it to stay good. In the fridge, cooked fish only last for about 3 to 4 days. While this can vary, it is a rough estimate for how long your fried fish will last. 

Things like the type of fish, proper storage, and a consistent temperature can affect how long the fish will actually last. 

When you are going to refrigerate fried fish (or any fish for that matter) make sure you are storing it properly. Put the fish in a large container or freezer bag, or wrap it in aluminum foil, plastic, or freezer paper and store until you want to use  it. 

This should be done for refrigerating and freezing fish, raw or cooked. If you don’t seal the fish tightly, then you risk bacteria contaminating the food.

How Long Does Cooked Fish Last At Room Temperature?

Over 90 percent of fish can be eaten and all freshwater species are edible. Fish can be cooked in many different ways, baking, grilling, sauteing, poaching, or frying. You can also eat it in a soup and some fish like tuna come precooked in a can. 

When you are frying fish, you bread it and fry it in some heated oil until it turns golden brown and crispy. When it is finished cooking, it will be an opaque color and flake easily with a fork. 

Then, you can serve it for a delicious meal. But how long does the cooked fish last at room temperature before you have to put it away?

Cooked fish can only be left out for no longer than 2 hours. Any longer than this, and you risk bacterial contamination. So, fish, whether raw or cooked, should be refrigerated or frozen immediately. Cooked fish can be refrigerated after it has cooled down.

When you keep foods cool, you slow down oxidation. This is how the refrigerator keeps fish good for a couple of days. If you need to store fish for even longer, then you should freeze it. 

Freezing fish slows and even stops oxidation so you can keep fish frozen indefinitely. But, I should say that over time, it will lose quality. It won’t taste as good in its flavor or texture. 

So, ideally you should use frozen fish within 6 to 12 months for best results. 

Now, back to fried fish. This can also be frozen but will only last for about a month and will only only last for about 3 days in the fridge. If you store fish for longer than it should be or leave it out on the counter for more than a couple of hours, you risk bacterial continuation.

Bacterial contamination means that tiny microorganisms invade unprotected food and cause it to go and spoil. When fish spoils, it will change in its appearance, smell, and texture along with its taste. But hopefully you don’t get to the tasting part because you can get really sick from eating spoiled fish. 

If you notice anything strange or off about the fish, discard it. All fish can spoil. Raw fish can spoil as well as cooked fish. 

Neither raw fish nor cooked fish should be left out for more than 2 hours or they will go bad.

Final Thoughts

Fish is a popular food in many countries and if you have leftovers you probably want to save them for later. You can save fish in the fridge or freezer. The freezer will keep it good for longer but the fridge is the ideal storage space if you are planning on eating it within the next couple days. 

Fried fish is only good for about 3 days when stored in the fridge. It should be eaten within this time because after being refrigerated for a few days, the fish will begin to spoil and need to be discarded. 

So, to avoid getting sick from bacteria in fried fish, only refrigerate it for 3 days and then throw it away.