Of course, spaghetti, noodles and macaroni last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember that noodles, like a lot of other grains, usually have a best before date which is simply the last date the manufacturer will vouch for the product safety and not an expiration date for the product. Because of this distinction, you may safely use pasta even after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Pasta is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your pasta has gone bad. Some common traits of bad fresh or cooked pasta or noodles are a discoloration and a dull, slimy appearance which appear before the formation of mold.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Pasta to extend its shelf life?

You can help pasta keep fresh longer by storing it in its original packaging in your pantry. Once cooked, pasta should be stored in a tightly closed container to keep out moisture and other contaminants.

Opened and unopened pasta are not listed separately because it really makes no difference in terms of shelf life as long as the pasta, fresh, cooked or dried is re-sealed and stored properly.

For a long-term option, you can freeze your pasta while preserving its taste if you use a freezer safe container. Just remember to cool your pasta (preferably run under cold water to stop the cooking) without a lid before you freeze it or it will be very mushy when thawed. Freezing is an indefinite type of storage, but cooked pasta begins to dry out when frozen too long.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Pasta:

How long is Pasta good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does pasta last? That depends. How long does chicken last? In general, pasta lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Pasta lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Pasta.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Pasta shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!