How long does potato salad last in the fridge?
Potato salad keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge, per USDA FoodKeeper.
Updated
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Potato salad | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended |
Can you freeze potato salad?
USDA FoodKeeper does not recommend freezing potato salad. The dressing separates and the potatoes turn watery once thawed.
How to store potato salad
Keep it at 40°F or colder until you serve it. At a picnic or a buffet, set the bowl in a larger bowl of ice, and put it back in the cooler as soon as people are done.
How long can potato salad sit out?
No more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour when it is above 90°F, such as at a summer picnic. After that, USDA says to throw it out.
How to tell if potato salad has gone bad
Go by the days, not by the smell. The germs that cause food poisoning usually do not change how food looks, smells or tastes, so food past its time can seem fine and still make you sick. Mold, a sour smell or a slimy feel mean it has spoiled, but food without them is not safe just because it seems fine. Never taste food to check it. When in doubt, throw it out.
Times from USDA FoodKeeper, the storage data from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service: data version 128, last changed September 6, 2018, still the current version. Public domain. The handling rules are from USDA's Leftovers and Food Safety.