Maria had just finished preparing a big bowl of her famous tuna salad for a family picnic. It was a warm summer day, and she packed the salad carefully into a container, eager to share it with everyone.
After a few hours of fun, laughter, and sun, the picnic was over. Maria brought the leftover tuna salad home and placed it in the fridge, thinking she’d enjoy it for lunch the next day.
The next afternoon, Maria opened the fridge and stared at the container. She wondered, “How long is this tuna salad still safe to eat?”
Maria recalled that tuna salad, because it contains mayonnaise and cooked tuna, is perishable and should be refrigerated promptly. Generally, it stays safe and tasty for 3 to 5 days in the fridge if stored properly in an airtight container at or below 40°F (4°C).
Since it had only been about a day, Maria felt confident taking a spoonful. It looked fresh and smelled just right. She enjoyed her lunch with no worries.
But she knew if she waited too long—say a week or more—the tuna salad could spoil, potentially causing foodborne illness.
So Maria made a mental note: Next time, label her leftovers with the date and stick to the 3 to 5-day rule to keep her family safe and her food delicious.
Moral of the story: Always store tuna salad in a sealed container in the fridge and eat it within 3 to 5 days. When in doubt, trust your senses—if it smells off or looks strange, it’s best to toss it out.
How Long Is Tuna Salad Safe in the Fridge?
