Pot Roast is a delicious and hearty meal that’s best enjoyed in the wintertime. There’s nothing quite like coming home to a roast that’s been slow cooking all day. The meat becomes fall-apart tender and the veggies add a nutritious touch to dinner.

You’ll want to store your pot roast in the fridge once it has cooled so you can enjoy the leftovers another day. According to the USDA, food should not be left out for a period longer than two hours. After this point, bacteria can become harmful and may cause illness if consumed.

If you’ve made a large batch of pot roast, you’ll want to ensure that you’re storing it properly. There’s nothing worse than spending the time cooking a homemade meal only to have it go bad after a day or two.

How Long Can a Pot Roast Sit Out at Room Temperature?

You’ll want to leave your pot roast out on the counter at room temperature for no longer than two hours. Bacteria have a propensity to double after more than 20 minutes, so you can only imagine what would happen if you left your food out for hours on end.

Once you’ve cooked your pot roast, which is usually done in a slow cooker, you should give it time to cool. Putting hot food in the refrigerator right away can cause the internal temp of the fridge to warm up by several degrees, which can put the other food at risk.

At the point that your pot roast has reached an acceptable temperature, you should put it in the fridge for safe storage. Generally, this shouldn’t take any longer than an hour.

When you go to reheat your pot roast, you can pop it in the microwave or heat it on the stovetop. You don’t want to let it sit out for very long, as it’s best consumed straight away.

If you’ve opted to freeze your leftover pot roast, you may want to allow it time to defrost on the counter. However, the ideal method is to pop it into the fridge overnight and let it defrost slowly that way instead of at room temperature.

You can also choose to defrost it using warm water, though this should be used sparingly as it can cause rapid bacteria growth.

What Happens If You Eat Pot Roast That’s Gone Bad?

You should always be careful when eating leftovers, especially those that contain meat products. In the case of pot roast, the meat may go bad before the rest of the dish. However, since it’s all combined you’ll have to toss the entire thing out.

Generally, you won’t reach a point where you’re eating pot roast that’s gone bad as it will have an unpleasant odor and slimy look to it. You should be able to see and smell these signs well before you put a spoon into your mouth.

However, if you’ve accidentally consumed roast that’s been sitting on the counter for several hours, you have the potential to become sick. There’s no reason to immediately panic, though you should be wary of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Eating pot roast after it’s gone bad can cause a host of food-borne illnesses, which are never pleasant to contract. You may find yourself stuck in bed for a day or two and you can suffer from fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Your body will try to rid itself of the harmful bacteria by expelling them by any means necessary. It’s not often an illness that requires a doctor’s visit unless your fever won’t break.

In general, you’ll require plenty of rest and fluids to recover. Next time you go to eat leftovers, you’ll be extra cautious to ensure that they’re safe to consume.

How Can You Tell If a Pot Roast Has Gone Bad?

When you go to eat your leftover pot roast, you’ll want to give it a quick sniff and a visual inspection. If it was refrigerated within the two-hour period and it’s been in the fridge for a day or two, you don’t have much of anything to be worried about.

However, if it’s been in the fridge for several days already, you’ll want to add a bit of additional caution. If the roast has a slimy layer over the top or signs of mold growth, you’ll need to toss the roast in the container out.

If there is a bad smell to the dish, this is often a sign that invisible bacteria has already taken over and there’s, unfortunately, nothing you can do to save the pot roast at this point.

Generally, the signs of a spoiled pot roast are visible or at least immediately noticeable by smell. The only time you get into the questionable territory is if it’s been left on the counter at room temperature for a period longer than two hours.

At this point, you are unlikely to see mold and it shouldn’t smell bad. However, you can rest assured that bacteria have multiplied during this period and it’s simply not worth the risk of eating it anymore.

How Should Pot Roast Be Stored?

Ideally, you’ll want to store your pot roast in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. If you have a lot of leftovers, you can also choose to freeze portions of them for later.

When you go to refrigerate your pot roast, you should place it in glass or plastic containers and ensure that they seal well. If left open, it can take on various odors from the fridge and may go bad quicker.

Straight out of the fridge, your pot roast will be easy to reheat and usually only requires a minute or two in the microwave or several minutes on the stovetop. This is the simplest way to enjoy your leftovers the next day.

If you find yourself with a large quantity of leftover pot roast, you may want to freeze it. This will allow the delicious meal to last for up to 4-6 months in the freezer. Always make sure to date your frozen food so you know how long it’s been stored.

When freezing, you can use tightly sealed Ziploc bags for individual portions. These can be frozen flat, so as to take up less room in your freezer. You can also use freezer-safe containers.

Once you’re ready to eat your leftovers, simply defrost a portion and enjoy. For those who have a busy schedule and need a quick homemade meal, frozen pot roast makes for a hearty and warm bowl of meat, veggies, and potatoes.

Keep in mind, that potatoes don’t always freeze very well. Once defrosted and reheated, you’re likely to notice that the potatoes have taken on a mushy texture. If you plan to freeze your roast, you may consider leaving the potatoes out and adding them in later.

How Long Does Pot Roast Last?

Depending on how you choose to store your pot roast, you can expect it to last anywhere between 3-5 days and up to 6 months. Naturally, storing it in the freezer will ensure it stays fresh for longer.

If you pop your pot roast into the fridge, you’ll want to eat it within a few days for the best quality. After some time, it can begin to go bad and take on an unpleasant aroma.

All perishable food has a limit, even when stored properly. If you’ve had your roast in the fridge for several days, you’ll want to hurry up and freeze it if you don’t plan on eating it right away.

Once it’s been in the fridge for 4-5 days, you’ll need to be extra careful to ensure it’s still safe to eat. You don’t want to get into the dicey territory and risk contracting a food-borne illness by eating rotten food.

Pot roast can be a delicious meal to make in large quantities, as it’s a hearty grab-and-go meal if you throw portions into the freezer. You can easily defrost some in the morning and have a hot lunch during the colder months.