How Long Is Raw Fish Safe To Eat?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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This guidance applies to both raw sushi, such as sashimi, and cooked sushi, such as tempura or California rolls. When storing sushi in the fridge, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that raw fish and shellfish can be refrigerated for

1–2 days

, but 3–4 days when cooked (3).

Can you eat raw fish after 5 days?

Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing.

After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days

. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.

How long can raw fish stay?

Whether it’s raw or cooked, fish can safely sit at room temperature for

up to two hours

. This time reduces to one hour on hot days when the room is above 90°F. After this time the fish should be discarded or returned to the fridge and thoroughly cooked the next time it is used, to ensure the fish is cooked through.

Can you eat 2 day old sushi?

If the sushi has raw fish, it is okay to take home some leftovers and store them in a refrigerator up to 24 hours. The taste and texture of the sushi may change (e.g. softer sashimi, limp seaweed paper, harder rice), but

there should be no harm in eating it 24 hours after it was made

.

How can you tell if fish is spoiled?

Some common traits of bad fish are

a slimy, milky flesh (a thick, slippery coating) and a fishy smell

. This is hard because fish is smelly and slimy by nature, but these traits become much more pronounced when fish has gone bad. Fresh fillets should glisten like they came out of water.

How long does raw fish last in the fridge after thawing?

When it is completely thawed, keep the fish in a refrigerator for

no more than two days

before eating it.

Can you eat fish after 4 days?

Leftover fish should be safe for you to eat for an absolute maximum of

up to 3 days after it has been cooked

, according to the USDA.

How long can you keep raw cod in the fridge?

COD – FRESH, RAW

After cod is purchased, it may be refrigerated for

1 to 2 days

– the “sell-by” date on the package may expire during that storage period, but the cod will remain safe to use after the sell by date if it has been properly stored.

How long does salmon last in fridge uncooked?

Salmon and other fish and seafood do not keep for very long — at most, fresh, raw salmon will last

two days

in your refrigerator. To be safe, if you buy fresh salmon, plan to cook it the same night. Frozen fish should be thawed and cooked the same day.

Why is it leaving seafood out of refrigerator for more than 2 hours is discouraged?


Bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes

. This range of temperatures is often called the “Danger Zone.” Never leave food out of refrigeration over 2 hours.

Can you leave fish in the fridge overnight?

Even the freshest fish will noticeably degrade after spending a night at 38°F (3°C), which is about the temperature that most home refrigerators maintain. True,

eating fish that’s been stored at that temperature overnight won’t kill you

.

How long can fish be left out after cooking?

Cooked fish, no matter what type, should sit out for

no longer than two hours at room temperature

. Otherwise, you risk dangerous bacteria beginning to grow.

Can you eat 3 days old sushi?

When storing sushi in the fridge, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advises that raw fish and shellfish can be refrigerated for 1–2 days, but

3–4 days when cooked

(3).

Can you eat sushi after 4 days?

For some reason, if you keep it by itself and we don’t understand why anyone would want to but someone must have in order to have discerned this,

you can store sashimi rice, or sushi rice for up to five days in your refrigerator and it’ll be absolutely fine to eat.

Can you eat week old sushi?

(In general, raw fish that’s refrigerated is safe for three days.

Sushi made from cooked fish or vegetables can be eaten up to a full week after it was made if it’s stored at or below 41o F

, or about five days if your home fridge is set to a warmer 45o F.)

What happens if you cook spoiled fish?



If you cook it thoroughly enough any flora of microbes you have there will be knocked out

.” “I would go so far as to say that even rotten fish can be eaten without the consumer getting sick, as long as the fish is given sufficienty heat treatment,” says Østli.

What happens when you eat spoiled fish?

There are two types of food poisoning you can get from eating fish. They are ciguatera poisoning and scombroid poisoning. Ciguatera poisoning symptoms include

abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

. Symptoms can progress to headache, muscle aches, and itchy, tingly, or numbness of the skin.

Can you eat out of date fish?

Toss refrigerated raw fish 2 days after the sell-by date.


If more than 1 or 2 days have passed since that date, throw the fish out

. If you’d like to delay the expiration of refrigerated fish, put it in the freezer. If the fish has a use-by date rather than a sell-by date, avoid keeping the fish past that date.

How do you keep fish fresh in the refrigerator?

How can you tell if fish is safe to eat?

Fish should smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or ammonia-like. A fish’s eyes should be clear and shiny. Whole fish should have firm flesh and red gills with no odor. Fresh fillets should have firm flesh and red blood lines, or red flesh if fresh tuna.

Can you eat cooked shrimp after 5 days?


If shrimp has been frozen, yes, you can still eat cooked shrimp after 5 days

. However, if you just keep cooked shrimp in the fridge, it has to be consumed within 2 days. The same goes if it’s still unshelled. After 3 days, bacteria could start to grow already.

Why does fish spoil faster than meat?


Cold waters also give fish their highly unsaturated fats

. Such fats have an irregular structure that leaves them fluid and biologically useful at low temperatures, but also more susceptible to attack by oxygen, which speeds spoilage. So fish spoil faster than meats, and fatty fish from cold waters spoil the fastest.

Should raw cod smell fishy?

Fresh fish, crustaceans, shellfish, etc., smell lightly of the sea when they’re first caught, but

they should never smell distinctly fishy

. Unless you have an amazing fishmonger, or caught the fish yourself, the week-old cod you’re buying from the supermarket will most likely reek.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.