Here's How Long Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Will Last In The Fridge - The Daily Meal (2024)

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ByElizabeth Thorn|

There's nothing quite like a bowl of warm, creamy fettuccine Alfredo — especially when it comes from Olive Garden. In fact, many people make it a point to order extra just so they can savor the leftovers the next day. But what if we told you that you can enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness of this Italian classic for up to five days after you bring it home?

According to food safety guidelines from Healthline, you should consume cooked pasta dishes, like fettuccine Alfredo, within three to five days of refrigeration. However, the actual lifespan of your leftovers depends on how you store them, with some noting it's best to eat any type of cooked pasta, whether from Olive Garden or not, within two days of refrigerating.

Now, you might be thinking: "I've eaten refrigerated pasta before, and it was so dry and unappetizing." And yeah, that's sometimes an unfortunate reality of storing and reheating pasta dishes.

However, whether you're looking to stretch out your meal or just want to make sure your leftovers don't go to waste, we can show you the best practices for preserving the rich, creamy flavor you know and love. It's time to put those Tupperware containers that have been piling up in your cupboard to good use.

How to properly refrigerate Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo

When refrigerating Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo, there are a few crucial steps to keep in mind to ensure the pasta retains its delicious taste and quality. The first step is to let the pasta cool before storing it in the fridge. Ashley Schuering, a ServSafe-certified food safety expert, told Well+Good, "Food should be cooled to 70 degrees within two hours, then cooled to 41 degrees or lower within four hours to prevent bacterial growth.

However, the initial cool-down period has less to do with food safety and instead is more about ensuring condensation doesn't affect theconsistency or quality of the fettuccine — an issue that is particularly pertinent when storing somewhat crispy ingredients, which might be the case if you ordered the dish with chicken.

When speaking with Well+Good, Schuering added that if you "cover [pasta] and put it in the fridge while it is still hot, the heat will cause condensation to occur on the lid of the container, which will then rain down on the crispy topping and leave it soggy in texture."

After letting the pasta cool, ensure you store it in an airtight container and not the takeout box you likely carried it out in.Make sure to write the date on the container so you know exactly when you stored it. After all, as you've just learned, fettuccine Alfredo only lasts in the fridge for about five days at most.

Tips for reheating Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo

So, you've stored your beloved Olive Garden fettuccine Alfredo in the fridge, and you're within the recommended three to five-day freshness timeframe, but how do you bring it back to life?

If you're using the microwave, remove the pasta from the airtight container, place it in a microwave-safe bowl, and add a few splashes of water into the mix. Cover the bowl with a paper towel to avoid any saucy explosions, then microwave the pasta at 60-second intervals, stirring in between, until it's hot and ready to be devoured.

If you're worried about the pasta cooking evenly throughout, reheat your fettuccine Alfredo in the oven. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and place your pasta in an oven-safe dish. Add a splash of milk, cream, or water to prevent dryness, and cover the dish with foil. Bake for about 10 minutes, stir the pasta, and then let it continue to bake for another five to 10 minutes or until it's heated to your desired temperature and texture.

Remember, it's essential to consume the pasta as soon as possible, preferably within five days of purchasing it. If it's been past the five-day mark, it may be time to head back to Olive Garden for a fresh batch of their delicious fettuccine Alfredo — they make their sauce fresh daily.

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Here's How Long Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Will Last In The Fridge - The Daily Meal (2024)

FAQs

Here's How Long Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo Will Last In The Fridge - The Daily Meal? ›

According to food safety guidelines from Healthline, you should consume cooked pasta dishes, like fettuccine alfredo, within three to five days of refrigeration.

How long can Alfredo last in the fridge? ›

While pasta sauce stays fresh for about five to six days after opening, sauces that contain dairy, such as Alfredo, are best used within three or four days.

Can I eat 3 day old Alfredo? ›

Use within 3-4 days.

To reduce the risk of foodborne illness, use your alfredo sauce leftovers within 3-4 days.

How do you reheat leftover Olive Garden fettuccine alfredo? ›

A good way to reheat any pasta is in a 10 inch skillet with a lid and some milk or cream in your case, or even just a bit of water to creates steam which heats the pasta . so medium high heat until pan is warm, put in your leftover pasta and liquid of choice, about 2 tablespoons should do it.

How long is fettuccine alfredo with shrimp good for in the fridge? ›

While this Alfredo recipe is best when it is served and eaten fresh, you can store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place pasta in a saucepan and heat slowly. Add in some cream as needed to loosen up the Alfredo sauce.

How long does Olive Garden fettuccine alfredo last in the fridge? ›

According to food safety guidelines from Healthline, you should consume cooked pasta dishes, like fettuccine alfredo, within three to five days of refrigeration.

How long are leftovers from Olive Garden good for? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.

How do you know if Alfredo has gone bad? ›

- Smell: Alfredo sauce that has gone bad will often have a sour or unpleasant odor different from the creamy, cheesy smell it should have. - Texture: If the sauce has separated or become curdled, it's likely gone bad. Additionally, if it's become overly thick or slimy, these are signs of spoilage.

Can you eat 4 day old chicken Alfredo? ›

Store your cooked chicken in the refrigerator within two hours of cooking it, and make sure to have a plan in place for using it up within three to four days.

How long do buttered noodles last in the fridge? ›

How to Store Buttered Noodles. Store your leftover buttered noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Why doesn t fettuccine alfredo reheat well? ›

In fettuccine alfredo or any cream sauce for that matter, heavy cream is a major ingredient. And when it's heated at high temperatures, the fat separates from the rest of the cream.

Why does alfredo sauce separate when reheated? ›

Sauce Separation: Alfredo sauce can separate if reheated too quickly or at too high of a temperature. To prevent this, one should reheat the sauce slowly over low heat, stirring constantly.

How many times can you reheat fettuccine? ›

In terms of food safety, however, so long as you reheat the food at the correct temperature and for the correct duration of time, it can in fact be safely reheated multiple times. However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that food is only reheated once, so follow this guidance wherever possible.

Can you eat Alfredo after 5 days? ›

Freshly prepared Alfredo sauce should be consumed within 3 to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator. It is vital to ensure that the sauce does not remain at room temperature for more than two hours to avoid the rapid growth of bacteria. These bacteria can lead to foodborne illness, a serious health risk.

How long does it take for Alfredo to spoil? ›

For opened jars of Alfredo, you don't have more than a few days. Specifically, three to four days is the most common guideline for an open jar's longevity. The rule pertains not only to Alfredo but also to other cream-based sauces, whether a spinach and balsamic cream sauce or one with tomatoes and chipotle.

Does Alfredo pasta go bad in the fridge? ›

Once opened, it's best to use your jar of pasta sauce in about five to six days. For sauces that contain dairy, like Alfredo or other cream sauces, it's best to stick to three or four days. Unlike bread or other foods, mold is less of a concern — of course, if you leave that jar long enough, mold will certainly grow.

Is chicken alfredo good after 5 days? ›

When it comes to homemade Alfredo sauce, the freshness of the ingredients sets the initial timer for its longevity. After its preparation, the sauce can remain safe to consume for about 3 to 5 days if promptly refrigerated at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long does pasta with sauce last in the fridge? ›

Homemade pasta sauce can be kept in the fridge for three to four days and store-bought sauce can last for up to four days. Homemade pasta should last in the fridge for one to two days and cooked pasta should keep in the fridge for three to five days.

Can you store leftover Alfredo sauce? ›

How to store alfredo sauce? Store alfredo sauce in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Alternatively, you may pour into a bowl and cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. To extend the shelf life of this delicious sauce, freeze it!

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