Chili is a favorite Food for Americans who enjoy adding it to hot dogs, chips, and accompanied by a cold beer. It was originally made in Texas by Mexican immigrants who used American-styled beef to recreate their traditional dishes. But what if you made too much and now wonder how long it can sit in the fridge and be safe to consume? 

Beef chili can last up to 7 days in the refrigerator when it is properly stored. Chicken and turkey chili lasts for only 3-5 days in the fridge. For the best taste and quality, keep chili stored below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) and eat within 3 days. 

Chili is a popular food at any football game gathering, but how long is it safe for chili to sit out at room temperature? What sort of container should you store your chili inside? We have all the answers to your questions about chili and proper food handling! 

How Should Chili Be Stored?

Chili should be stored in a glass or ceramic container to preserve the best quality flavor and taste. Plastic containers can be used, but they are not recommended. Other options include pots, pans, and metal trays. 

Plastic containers are not the best option for storing foods such as chili in the refrigerator. This is because chili is very greasy and will probably ruin your container. The plastic container may also impact the flavor of your chili if the plastic held something flavorful before the chili. 

This is especially true for soft plastics such as Tupperware and other thin plastics. Because these containers are made with porous polypropylene, they tend to absorb fats and flavors. Removing this after it’s settled in the container is extremely difficult, so we recommend avoiding this. 

Glass is the best option for storing your chili in the fridge. You can use glass or ceramic containers with lids. Or, you can use canning jars with metal or plastic lids. Canning jars are convenient since they can hold a significant amount of chili but do not take up much space. 

We do not recommend using metal containers or metal pots. This can be alright for a single day, but the metal container can make the chili taste metallic and unpleasant. Additionally, try to avoid using very large containers for long-term storage. 

If the chili is too deep, it might not become as cool as it should. Thus, it is more likely to develop bacteria. Try only to store your chili in smaller containers as much as possible.

What Happens If You Eat Chili That’s Gone Bad?

Eating chili that’s gone bad can cause food poisoning if it’s been infected with foodborne bacteria. These bacteria include E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Cladistrom. Other potentially harmful substances include fungal spores and mold, which can grow on old or infected food. 

Food poisoning can be very unpleasant and occasionally severe and deadly. Food poisoning occurs when humans or animals consume food that has been infected with dangerous bacteria, spores, or parasites. 

Chili is usually a safe food due primarily to the long, high-heat cooking periods. However, much like other prepared foods, it only remains safe for up to 2 hours at room temperature. This time is reduced to 1 hour if it is very hot, or you serve it outdoors. 

For the best and safest quality storage, try to get your chili into the fridge an hour after cooking. Never put hot chili into the fridge since it will impact the internal temperature of your fridge and may spoil other foods as well as itself. 

Remember the “goldy-locks zone” of temperatures for food storage and preservation. This goldy-locks zone is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and parasites, so it should be avoided.  

If the room is between 40-75 degrees Fahrenheit (4-24 degrees Celsius), the chili should be thrown away after sitting for 2 hours. If it is 75 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) or higher, the chili should be thrown away after 1 hour of sitting out. 

How Can You Tell If Chili Has Gone Bad?

Sight, smell, and taste are the most obvious indicators of spoiled chili. If you smell a very strong, slightly rancid garlic scent, the chili is likely no longer okay to eat. If the chili appears very dry or you see mold, do not consume it. Never taste chili you believe has gone bad. 

Garlic is a common and virtually essential ingredient in chili. However, garlic also delivers a powerful and unforgettable scent to your food. Unlike ground beef, garlic delivers a very potent scent when it has started to turn bad. 

This is why it’s a great way to determine the shelf life and whether your chili is no longer good to consume. This is especially true if you use fresh garlic, which smells like rancid garlic and onion when it’s spoiled. 

Beef does not have a strong scent even after it’s spoiled. However, it does start to look dull, dry, and all-around unpleasant when it has gone bad. Pay close attention to how dry your chili looks since this indicates the fats are breaking down and the meat is getting old. 

Never eat chili which has visible mold or a fermented scent. This indicates that your chili has started to spoil or become infected with dangerous mold spores. Not all molds are dangerous to consume, but they may give you a stomach ache if you eat them, so it’s best to stay away altogether. 

How Long Can Chili Be Left Out at Room Temperature?

Chili should only be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours. For the best flavor and to prevent the potential of food poisoning, try to put it in the fridge after 1 hour. If it is an abnormally warm day, try to keep the chili in the fridge and only leave it out for up to an hour. 

Never consume chili that has sat out overnight. This has allowed the chili more than adequate time to become a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and mold spores. As a general rule of thumb, never eat chili that feels clammy or tepid to the touch. 

There is no way of knowing how long tepid chili has sat out, which could indicate a prolonged exposure. Although heat lamps are occasionally employed by fast food restaurants to keep food warm, they shouldn’t be relied on to prevent food poisoning. 

Heat lamps are employed to prevent food poisoning and to keep food fresh. But, there is no good way of knowing how effectively they kill or prevent bacterial growth. Play it safe and discard the food after 2 hours. 

Can You Store Chili in the Freezer? 

You can store chili in the freezer for up to one year. It is safe to consume chili that has been stored in the freezer for longer. However, it is likely that the taste will be unpleasant, the fat will have started to break down, and the chili will be dry. 

The best way to store chili in the freezer is to allow it one hour to cool before moving it into the freezer-safe container. You can use plastic containers in the freezer, but it’s best you use them for your chili exclusively. 

Since the scent and flavor of chili will remain in the container, try to use them for chili only. You can also use freezer-safe and zipper-sealed bags to hold a single serving of chili. This is a great way to prevent food poisoning from constant thawing and reheating. 

Although you can use glass containers, make sure they are securely sitting on the freezer shelf. Glass is incredibly fragile when it is cold, so if it falls from the freezer when you open the door, it will shatter. 

For the best taste, eat your chili before the first six months of storage. It will still taste good after one year but will start to develop freezer burn after being stored for longer periods. It is safe to consume but might taste unpleasant and dry.