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.
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.
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 will tuna salad stay good refrigerated?
FAQ
How long is tuna fish with mayonnaise good in the refrigerator?
Is tuna good after 4 days in fridge?
Is tuna salad good after 5 days?
Does tuna sandwich go bad in the fridge?
How long does tuna & mayo last in the fridge?
Tuna fish with Mayo can last as long as two to five days in the fridge. USDA says that if any salad stays in the open for at least 2 hours or more, you should discard it. Tuna fish with Mayo will last longer than other tuna salad mixtures when properly stored in the fridge. Do Tuna and Mayo Go Bad? Yes, Tuna and Mayo can go bad.
How much tuna should one consume per week for health?
The answer to this question depends on many individual factors such as your weight, age, physical activity factor, and how your diet is in general, since tuna is rich in proteins and fats, and an excess of it can also cause damage to health.
How long does tuna last in the fridge?
When properly stored, fresh tuna can last up to two days in the refrigerator. To maximize its shelf life, it is essential to keep it cold, ideally at a temperature below 40°F (4°C). Wrap the tuna tightly in plastic or store it in an airtight container to prevent any cross-contamination.
How do you store tuna mayo?
Storage instructions for a jar of tuna mayo that has not been opened are very similar to mustard. That indicates that you should keep it cold and dry, away from heat sources. The pantry also works well, but a kitchen cabinet away from the oven is a common option.