A classic lunchtime snack or meal, tuna salad is an economical and versatile option. While often made with mayonnaise, you can easily swap in Greek yogurt, hummus, or avocado instead, and add in your choice of crunchy vegetables like celery and onions. You can even take your tuna salad up a notch by adding in some spices, like dill or lemon pepper, or condiments like relish. You can enjoy it in a sandwich, in a lettuce wrap, with some crackers, or even on its own. Its no wonder that many people often make a large batch of it at a time.
As with any leftover food, a big concern is how to tell when the food starts to spoil since eating spoiled food, including tuna salad, can lead to food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning from eating bad tuna salad can include vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Luckily there are several ways to tell if tuna salad has gone bad, including visual and olfactory clues, as well as knowing how long tuna salad is good for.
It is not recommended to eat tuna salad after 5 days. USDA guidelines state that cooked fish is only good for 3-4 days when refrigerated. Additionally, foodsafety.gov states that the refrigerated shelf life of cold salads (tuna, egg, chicken, etc,) is 3-4 days.
Look for visual clues
One way to tell if your tuna salad has gone bad is to look for any changes in appearance. If you see any signs of mold or any green, brown, or dark spots on your tuna salad, then you should toss it out without even tasting it. Although it is possible to salvage some moldy items, like certain hard cheeses, cured meats, and fruits, by cutting off the moldy parts, tuna salad is not one of them, as you may not be able to see the mold spores that could have contaminated the other portions of the tuna salad.
If you see any sign of mold, dont sniff the tuna salad either, as that can cause respiratory issues from inhaling the mold, per the USDA, which also recommends keeping food items covered, even when being served, to prevent mold spores from spreading. So dont leave your tuna salad out uncovered for any length of time, and remember to promptly refrigerate it, ideally in an airtight container.
Spoiling food will often give off a bad or pungent smell, due largely to chemicals produced by spoilage microbes such as bacteria and mold as they grow in food. Tuna and tuna salad tend to have a somewhat strong smell to begin with, so it may be difficult to tell if its gone bad just using your sense of smell. However, if you open your leftover container of tuna salad and it has an extra fishy, funky, or otherwise off or pungent odor, then chances are, your tuna salad has spoiled and should be tossed out immediately.
Just because the tuna salad doesnt smell off doesnt mean that it hasnt spoiled or gone bad. According to Tufts Now, many microbes that cause food-borne illnesses dont actually give off a noticeable smell when they start growing in food, so dont take the absence of smell as a definitive indicator that your tuna salad is still good.
How long is tuna salad good for?
According to the USDA, tuna salad, assuming it has been stored properly in the fridge at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, is good for 3 to 5 days before it starts to spoil. Its important to refrigerate any leftover tuna salad promptly. Dont let it sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour when its more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit out). Using an airtight container will keep your tuna salad fresher for longer, and also wont let smells in or out. You should also store the tuna salad in the coldest part of your fridge, and not in the door.
Tuna salad doesnt usually freeze well, since its most commonly made with mayonnaise, which tends to separate when frozen. Crunchy items like veggies can also lose their crunch and become mushy once frozen. If youve made your tuna salad with mayo swaps that can better withstand freezing, such as yogurt or hummus, and minimal other add-ins, then you may be able to extend the life of your tuna salad by freezing it. Canned tuna on its own can typically be frozen for up to 3 months, while yogurt can be frozen for up to 2 months, and hummus for up to 4 months.
Big Mistakes Everyone Makes With Canned Tuna
FAQ
How long is leftover tuna salad good for?
Is it okay to eat leftover tuna?
Can you eat a tuna sandwich the next day?
How do you reheat tuna salad?
What to do with leftover tuna?
It’s a healthier alternative to eating it with bread, and it’s a great way to show off your culinary skills to others. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover tuna you have. To make this dish, start by scooping out the avocado halves, then add in your tuna, mayo, diced celery and onion. Mix everything together and season to taste.
Is it safe to have tuna casserole for dinner if one has mild constipation?
Fish like tuna and white noodles do not have fiber, so, they will not make constipation worse, but they will not help to relieve it. Peas and vegetables contain fiber. So, try to prepare this dish with brown whole grain noodles, peas, and many vegetables. This way it will have a lot of fiber and will help with your condition.
Can you eat tuna salad on your own?
You can eat tuna salad all on it’s own, or eat it with crackers or potato chips. If you want to make a sandwich, add a generous helping of this easy tuna salad recipe to whole wheat bread, thick cut white bread, sourdough, a croissant or anything else you want. Make a wrap with a flour tortilla or whole wheat tortilla.
Can you eat leftover tuna steak?
Hold on. There’s still hope for the leftover tuna steak in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, and more. With all those varieties on a meal plan, I wouldn’t mind eating tuna steak several days in a row. In this article, I’ll share my favorite twists on typical leftover tuna steak recipes.