How Long Does Your Homemade Lasagna Last In The Fridge?

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With all the time it takes to prepare it, making a homemade lasagna often feels like an achievement worthy of a social media post. Still, unless you are feeding a crowd, this hearty Italian fare usually leaves you with plenty of leftovers. After avoiding all the mistakes that can ruin a lasagna when cooking it, you want to make sure none of the extras go to waste, and how you store it will determine the timeframe you have to enjoy it.

Once everyone around the table has concluded they can't have another bite, the dish will be safe to eat for three to five days if stored in the fridge. This is assuming that it is being kept in an airtight container — the Sistema KLIP IT Food Storage Container can hold even the biggest lasagna — and it is placed in a spot in the refrigerator that stays consistently cold (like the back of your fridge). If something goes awry and the lasagna has an odd smell or appears slimy when you pull it out of the fridge, it is best to play it safe and find something else for dinner.

As good as lasagna is, variety is the spice of life, and so you may not always want a second helping of the saucy cuisine within a few days. In this case, freezing it boosts the shelf life up to two to three months. It will likely be safe to consume longer than that, but the quality will start to degrade. Not only does freezing it extend how long it stays edible, but you can also reheat the lasagna directly from the freezer.

Meal prepping on the weekend is a fantastic way to save some time on meals throughout the week, and making a homemade lasagna that can be popped right into the oven from the fridge ahead of time is something you will thank yourself for later. However, be sure you enjoy it within three to five days – the same as if it were baked beforehand. If you leveled up a vegetarian lasagna with a flavorful béchamel sauce, it should be safe for up to five days. When ground beef or Italian sausage is in the mix, you only have three to four days to cook it.

If you want it ready to go far in advance, freezing uncooked lasagna is also an option. It will stay good in the icebox for three months, leaving you with plenty of time to decide on when to bake it (cutting it into individual proportions can be a useful move here). When homemade lasagna is calling your name, you'll get best results if you transfer it to the fridge and let it thaw overnight before cooking.