Nothing gets better than having a hearty warm soup in chilly weather. Many prefer adding seasonal vegetables for health benefits as well as the flavor.
Sometimes we tend to make soup in big batches and may get confused about appropriately storing the leftover. Some vegetables spoil sooner compared to others. It may add to our confusion.
To answer all the questions on the storing method of vegetable soup, we have got this article for you. Stay tuned for more information.
How long is vegetable soup good for?
Vegetable soup remains good for about 3 to 4 days inside the refrigerator. It also depends on the types of vegetables and storage techniques. You can also extend the shelf life by freezing it in airtight containers. Again, vegetable soup may go stale if you leave it out at room temperature.
Table of Contents
One can store vegetable soups for later serving. However, how long it can be edible depends on the different storage mediums and the type of vegetables. We have gathered three mediums and the longevity of the soup in them.
Left out in the room temperature:
No cooked food may stay longer at room temperature. Bacteria rapidly grow between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Again, the vegetable soup is not merely a stock but has different vegetables mixed in it. Generally, you can keep a cooked vegetable soup at room temperature for 2 hours or more.
In the fridge:
Since it is cold inside the fridge, you can keep your cooked vegetable soup for 3 to 4 days. Also, make sure to store it within 2 hours of cooking. Otherwise, it may go bad before the mentioned days.
Frozen vegetable soup in the freezer:
Freeze the vegetable soup using a covered airtight container. You may also use a heavy-duty freezer bag.
The soup will remain safe for almost 4 to 6 months, using the freezing technique. Also, the temperature should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Once thawed, you can serve it for another 3 to 4 days.
How long does homemade vegetable soup keep in the fridge? Will it last a week?
Different vegetables tend to become bad at different times. For instance, an acidic vegetable such as tomato may go bad later than cauliflower.
How long is it possible to keep the vegetable soup in the fridge? You can store it for 3 to 4 days without the freezing temperature. Do not expect it to remain good for a week.
Again, at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the soup will stay good for 4 to 6 months in an air-tight container. Once you thaw to eat again, it will be edible for another 3 to 4 days inside a fridge.
How long does can soup last once opened?
Typically a canned soup lasts three to four days after you open it. This time frame is most suitable for low acid canned soups such as poultry, fish, meat, beans, carrots, pasta, potatoes, and spinach. Again, the more acidic flavored soup may last longer perhaps a day or two.
If you serve half of the soup, the other half can be stored. Better transfer it from the can to a glass or plastic air-tight container.
Also, do not throw away the liquid or brine that came with the soup. Keep the remaining inside the fridge either at normal or freezing temperature.
Is vegetable soup still good if left out overnight?
Vegetable soup that is left out overnight may not remain edible. And by overnight, we understand it is more than 8 to several hours. The room temperature is suitable for bacteria and other microorganisms to thrive.
The vegetable soup stays good for about 2 hours or more, at room temperature.
However, the vegetable soup may not become stale if the temperature is below 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, the situation is not very common for sure.
Again, if you can store your cooked vegetable soup inside the fridge within two hours, you can enjoy it for another 3 to 4 days.
How long are these vegetable soups good for?
Different vegetables have a different shelf life in terms of flavor and going stale. Here we have brought various kinds of vegetable soup to understand better.
Cabbage soup:
Cooked cabbage soup sealed tightly lasts for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. When it is freshly cut cabbage that too lasts for 4 to 5 days. However, canned cabbage soup may last 3 to 4 days.
Potato soup:
You can store potato leek soup for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Again, potato bacon soup may be edible for a few more hours or a day.
Again, you can eat loaded baked potato soup and homemade potato soup for 3 to 5 days, stored in the refrigerator.
Homemade tomato soup:
Tomato is acidic. Hence we expect the soup to last longer. Tomato basil soup, for example, lasts 4 to 5 days in the fridge, properly stored. You can keep tomato canned soup for 3 to 4 days. However, unopened can soup is edible for about 18 to 24 months.
Creamy tomato soup may not last long since it is cream-based. So it may last about 2 to 3 days, stored in the fridge.
Broccoli soup:
Broccoli Cheddar is milk-based. Hence, expect it to last for a little less than usual broccoli soup. It is edible for 3 days when kept appropriately in the refrigerator.
Butternut squash soup:
Butternut squash soup stored in the fridge appropriately will last about 4 to 5 days. If you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, you may expect additional few days.
Pumpkin soup:
Homemade pumpkin soup will stay good for 4 to 5 days when properly stored inside the refrigerator. However, if you mix milk, expect it to go bad before the usual time.
How can you tell if the vegetable soup is bad?
You may accidentally leave your vegetable soup in the pot overnight. The chances are that it may have gone stale already. So how can you tell if the soup is spoiled?
From visual:
When the color and consistency of your soup has changed to cloudy, you will infer it to be stale. In addition, there should not be any sediment as well.
Smell:
Soup usually gives a pleasant aroma. However, if your soup gives a sour or rancid smell, there is a chance it has spoiled. Don’t put it in your mouth for taste if you smell something similar, as it could make you sick.
Inspecting container:
If you store your soup in a container or it already came into one, you should inspect it too. If the soup is spoiled, the container will appear swollen or bulging. It happens due to gas buildup due to yeast and bacteria.
What happens if you eat spoiled soup?
You are not supposed to eat spoiled food. It will make you sick. Similarly, eating stale soup may result in sickness. You could develop symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, food poisoning, and a slight fever.
If it is homemade, make sure to store it properly in the fridge to avoid spoiling. Also, before heating it, check the consistency, color, and container. A typical vegetable soup kept in the refrigerator remains edible for 3 to 4 days.
Again, if it is ready-made, check for the expiration date. Moreover, when you open it, inspect the color, consistency, and smell.
How do you store soup in the refrigerator?
If you have noticed till now, we have repeatedly talked about storing soup in the refrigerator properly. What does that mean? If you are interested, this part is for you to understand how to store vegetable soup in the fridge.
When to Refrigerate:
You need to store your soup within two hours. Soup tends to spoil by two hours or a little more if kept at room temperature.
Let it cool:
Do not store your soup when it is hot. Let the soup cool for a while before you can keep it in the fridge.
Choose a container:
Transfer the soup from a bowl or a pot to a quality container. Pick a container with a lid that fits perfectly. A loose lid container is a big no.
Place in the fridge:
Now select an appropriate place to place it inside the fridge. Make sure to set the temperature perfectly.
Storing at a freezer:
You should follow the same step when keeping soup in a freezer. This time you need to use an air-tight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Also, the temperature should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Final thoughts
Vegetable soup is edible for almost 3 to 4 days. It depends on the storage technique and the type of vegetable you are using. In addition, you can extend the shelf-life by storing the soup in the freezer with the appropriate approach. At room temperature, the soup may not last beyond 2 hours.