Having delicious leftovers is one of the greatest upsides to cooking. Unfortunately, sometimes, cooked pork goes bad after a day or two in the fridge.
If you don’t have to eat it right away, leftover cooked pork can last for 4 days in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
The best way to store cooked pork is to freeze it in whole cuts. The meat will maintain its flavor and moisture this way.
You can also separate the pieces of pork in freezer bags or wrap them tightly in plastic or freezer paper. If you’re going to use them up soon, you may want to double-wrap the frozen pork before placing it in the freezer.
When storing cooked pork, don’t keep it out for longer than two hours in the room temperature. This is because the temperature range between 40 degF and 140 degF is a dangerous zone for pathogenic bacteria to grow, which can lead to food poisoning.
If you notice that your cooked pork has a bad odor, a discolored or slimy texture, or it doesn’t seem to smell right, discard it immediately. This will help you avoid wasting money on spoiled meat.