Here’s How Long Meal-Prepped Foods Will Actually Last

Just because it smells fine, doesn’t mean it’s edible. - by Lucy Bode

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If you’re into meal prep, listen here real quick: there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. For example, did you know that combining chicken with a sauce (i.e. soup) reduces the shelf life by four whole days? Yeah, thought so.

Here, via Magnet, we’ve put together this handy cheat sheet so you know exactly how long your fave pre-prepped foods will last before going bad.

Magnet

Magnet

Note: most foods will still be fine to eat for up to a day or two after their shelf-life expires. However, as bacteria can multiply every 20-30 mins, it’s always best to play it safe. (For meals with many different ingredients, we'd recommend going off the food with the shortest individual shelf life.)

Lucy Bode

Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.