How Long Does Spaghetti Squash Last? [Shelf Life Guide]

Spaghetti squash is often referred to as fruit spaghetti which belongs to the family of Cucurbita pepo and is believed to have come from China and eaten mostly in Japan.

When Spaghetti squash is ripe, it is sweet to taste and usually comes with different colour varieties in the market place and generally weighs around 5 pounds.

The orange coloured variety is known to contain higher amounts of carotene which has been found to be good for you if you are suffering from vision related and arthritis related problems. 

At the same time, according to FoodFacts, if you are suffering from diabetes, you must be knowing that there is energy depletion most of the day.

Thus, if you include spaghetti as a part of your diet plan, then along with each meal you will be able to get appropriate amount of carbohydrate content for a healthy life. 

Care should be taken that Spaghetti Squash should be fresh because fresh Spaghetti Squash has a huge amount of nutritive value.

How to Store Spaghetti Squash Properly?

Save for Later!

The spaghetti squash is a vegetable which needs to be kept under the refrigeration if there is an intention to use it for a long time.

This requires good packing and being put under deep freezing and under the airtight freezer container.

The airtight container constantly helps to keep spaghetti fresh and free from bacterial invasion.

The deep refrigeration always ensures that the vegetable is retained with its active nutrients which helps for a best appetite.

One can also freeze a small portion of Spaghetti squash for few weeks and have it served.

The only concern would be that it needs to be taken care when it becomes quite watery and mushy.

Generally, being watery and mushy is not recommended because it is quite easy to be prone to bacteria.

You should see that it becomes dry as early as possible so that it stops absorbing water and then during the serving, you can cook it at the last minute.

If you are not going to cook it immediately, then it should be kept on a floured towel placed on some baking sheet, on which flour is slightly sprinkled. Place it in the freezer.

Then, once it gets frozen you can store it in some heavy-freezer proof bags or wrap it in some plastic wraps.

Thus, if it is stored properly, it can last for 8 to 9 months.

Frozen spaghetti squash need not to be defrosted before cooking. You need to throw the spaghetti into boiling water.

Leave it for cooking. It will take more time to cook as compared to unfrozen Spaghetti.

How Spaghetti Squash Can be Eaten After Refrigeration

The spaghetti squash once taken out from the freezer, transfer them onto the container and have them washed once and then placing them to the mild flame so that the nutrients are intact and then have it served for the members.

Does Spaghetti Squash Go Bad? How Long Does Spaghetti Squash Last? Cooked & Uncooked

Save for Later!

As an analogy, you can say that foods in general have a limited time span to be consumed.

Since most of the spaghetti varieties are winter grown they need to properly packed, maintained and kept under cold storage to have a extended shelf-life especially when we have them in summer.

Spaghetti squash is prepared as a mild-flavoured variety and have a tendency to absorb the surrounding flavours.

Over the period of time, spaghetti becomes softer which makes the moisture in them to get leaked.

This is the time we understand that these spaghetti squash are really turning bad and making it unfit to consume.

At one stage they begin to get decayed. This is the time when it has really gone literally bad and it would become vulnerable and then the time has really come to dispose it out at the earliest.

You must also understand that Spaghetti like any other vegetables lose its nutrients each day even when kept on the refrigerated shelf-life.

However, the shelf-life of spaghetti squash can be kept in packed container can last for a week or two.

Since the prepared spaghetti squash contains certain preservatives, it can easily be kept under deep refrigeration for almost 6-8 months without losing its potential nutrients when consumed.

So, according to Los Angeles Regional Foodbank , when buying the Spaghetti squash, you should look for fruit that is hard, heavy and its colour is pale.

You should avoid those Spaghetti squash which has soft spots or are green in colour.

How Long Does Spaghetti Squash Last in the Fridge?

Save for Later!

According to StillTasty , it depends on how you store it, properly packed spaghetti squash can last up to 6-7 months period when it is being kept in deep refrigeration.

The most essential part is that it should be kept in refrigeration within 2 hours of cooking in order to prevent it from any sort of bacterial growth which can spoil them.

It should soon be discarded if it is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Spaghetti squash when kept under a tight packing under an airtight container would always hold good for retaining its best of nutrients even after months.

Even after cutting, if you want to prevent Spaghetti from decaying, you should wrap it in plastic wrap and then refrigerate it.

According to SimplyHealthy, when you are storing Spaghetti in fridge, its shelf life can be extend to 3 to 5 days.

Also, you can use it for your meal the next day. If you want to freeze cooked spaghetti squash, then it can be consumed for two months.

Though the quality of that Spaghetti squash is not good as that of freshly cooked Spaghetti, still it can be used in any meal.

Many horticultural gardeners opt for winter squash because they are very well adapted for long-shelf life under deep refrigeration so that it always remains fresh throughout.

Further, if you want to extend its shelf-life, you should freeze it in heavy-duty freezer bags.

How to Tell If a Spaghetti Squash Is Bad?

Save for Later!

Consuming bad Spaghetti will though not cause any harm but it will not give the great taste when it was fresh.

Signs that show Spaghetti Squash has gone bad:

If the spaghetti squash turns out to be pulpy in the bottom or are visibly looking milky-looking liquid, it is one of the indications that squash has been spoiled and should be discarded immediately.

You can inspect the spaghetti squash from outside, if there is a shine and toned that means it has got into the initial sign of decay.

The next indication is about its weight, if the spaghetti becomes light, it means that it has already gone bad. When the inside of spaghetti squash becomes soft and completely filled with moisture, it means it is getting decayed.

You can also test Spaghetti by its odour too. If it is giving dusty odour, it means it has gone stale.

Next test can be a taste test. If you get a musty taste or if it crunches between teeth, then immediately discard it.

If the Spaghetti has gone bad, it must have lost its flexibility. Thus, this is also a sign that it is the right time to dispose it off.

Pay attention while cooking Spaghetti too. If there is some residue left in the boiling water, it is an indication that Spaghetti has gone bad and is no longer of use.

Use a large and sharp knife, cut spaghetti squash open lengthwise. Check the flesh. The inside flesh should be solid as well as brightly colored, according to the variety of spaghetti squash.

If the flesh has some spots, is discoloured or rather, the colour is dull, the indication is that it has gone bad.

At the same time, if the flesh is soft or mushy, or if it appears dry, the squash has gone bad.

About The Author

Sharing is caring!