If you open your fridge and youre hit with a stinky smell, there could be something fishy going on. ( Learn how to get rid of stinky fish smell from the kitchen.)Were often told to eat more seafood, and in fact, the USDA recommends eating eight ounces a week to support brain and heart health. The only time that isnt true? When youre eating fish thats gone bad. But how long does fish last in the fridge? The answer is tricky—not as tricky as figuring out how long other food lasts in the fridge, such as pinpointing when eggs expire, but still tricky.
Sure, sell-by dates serve as a good indicator, but there are other variables that will affect that answer. For example, what if you thawed out frozen fish with the best intentions of cooking it for dinner but then decided to go out to eat? Or what if the fish in your fridge is already cooked—does that change things? You also need to consider fridge organization and storage guidelines. Heres what you need to know when trying to decide if that fish you want to make for dinner is still safe to eat.
Keep fresh catfish in the refrigerator up to two days before cooking or freezing. Use frozen catfish within 4 to 6 months for best quality. After cooking, store catfish in the refrigerator three to four days; and two to three months in the freezer.
How long does cooked fish last in the fridge?
Lets say you already cooked your fish, and now you have leftovers. How long does salmon last in the fridge, and how long does tuna last in the fridge? And what about shrimp, sole or your other favorites? In all cases, its the same. “Generally, cooked fish will last in the fridge for three or four days,” Bucknavage says. As with raw fish, its important to make sure youre storing your leftover fish properly. An airtight container will prevent it from being exposed to air or moisture.
And if the color or odor of the fish has changed, toss those leftovers—regardless of how long theyve been in your fridge. While many people are mindful of the bacteria that can grow on raw fish, they sometimes forget that the same thing can happen to cooked fish. Like other foods, when fish starts to spoil, it can develop harmful bacteria including brochothrix thermosphacta, carnobacterium piscicola and lactobacillus plantarum. These can cause symptoms including an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea and a fever, at best, and kidney or brain damage, at worst.
When it comes time to thaw your frozen catfish for cooking, the Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends these three approaches:
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With a mellow and clean flavor, catfish is one of the most versatile and healthy seafood ingredients on the market. It’s important you not only cook it correctly, but that it’s stored properly so it maintains freshness and flavor.
If you have leftover catfish, it can be immediately stored for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 2-3 months in the freezer. Once it’s time to reheat leftovers, we recommend avoiding the microwave because it’s likely to dry out the fish. The best method is using the oven. For more tips on reheating fish, checkout this LiveStrong article.
Tips for Freezing and Thawing CatfishAccording to the USDA, catfish can be frozen indefinitely in its original packaging or it can be repackaged. If you plan on storing the catfish in the freezer long-term, follow these guidelines to prevent freezer burn.
However, make sure to follow directions on the catfish packaging and avoid thawing breaded catfish that is purchased frozen!
Freezing and Storing Fresh Fish
FAQ
How long does raw catfish last in the fridge?
Can you keep raw fish in the fridge for 7 days?
How long can thawed fish stay in the fridge?
How can you tell if catfish is raw?
How long can catfish stay fresh after cooking?
Keep fresh catfish in the refrigerator up to two days before cooking or freezing. Use frozen catfish within 4 to 6 months for best quality. After cooking, store catfish in the refrigerator three to four days; and two to three months in the freezer.
How long can raw eggs last in the refrigerator?
It can last from 4 to 5 weeks depending on the state of your refrigerator. Please make sure to check whether there are broken eggs before storing them in fridge. Remove broken eggs to prevent contamination with the other eggs.
How long can you keep frozen catfish?
Use frozen catfish within 4 to 6 months for best quality. After cooking, store catfish in the refrigerator three to four days; and two to three months in the freezer. For breaded catfish purchased frozen, keep it in the freezer three to four months; do not thaw this product before cooking it.
Can catfish thaw in the fridge?
Never defrost catfish on the counter or in other locations. It’s best to plan ahead for slow, safe thawing in the refrigerator. Catfish fillets will usually thaw overnight. Whole catfish may take one to two days to thaw. Once the raw catfish thaws, it can be kept in the refrigerator an additional day or two before cooking.