If you’ve wondered how long chili con carne lasts in the fridge, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most popular types of Mexican food, and the answer depends on how you make and store it. Whether you use canned or homemade chili, here are some tips to keep leftover chili con carne fresh for as long as possible.
There is some benefit to cooking chili con carne in large quantities. Over the weekend, you can prepare a sizable batch in a big casserole pot in a matter of hours to provide yourself with four or more meals, but how do you store it?
How Long does Chili Con Carne Last in the Fridge?
Cooked chili with meat can be kept in the refrigerator for 3–4 days if properly preserved. Additionally, vegan chili can keep for up to a week. But now, let’s talk about how to freeze chili, so here we go:
Make your batch of chili, then let it cool as rapidly as possible to room temperature. Within two hours of cooking, you want it to have cooled.
Once the chili has cooled, split it into bags. To make it easier to handle while defrosting, try to split it into servings. A serving of chili con carne typically weighs 250g for an adult.
Seal: Try to remove as much as you can by sealing the bags. The best way to do this is first to seal the bag 90% of the way, squeeze the air from the bottom to the top, and then seal it the rest of the way.
Label the bags, then put them in the freezer after freezing.
How Long does Canned Chili Con Carne Last in the Fridge?
Whether preparing chili for your next meal or storing it later, you need to know how long it will stay in the fridge. Chili should be kept at a temperature between 40 and 140 degrees. This temperature range is called the danger zone, where bacteria grow the fastest. The sooner you get the chili to this temperature, the longer it will stay fresh and last longer in your fridge.
To preserve chili con carne, store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. It’s best to use it immediately, but keeping it in the fridge for up to 3 months is also safe. However, it would be best if you didn’t freeze it, as it will lose its flavor. To prevent this from happening, use plastic wrap to cover the container. Once it’s thawed, reheat it on low to medium heat.
Canned chili con carne can be stored for up to four to six months, depending on the brand and quality. It’s important to remember that the chilling process can make hot peppers even hotter. To prevent freezer burn, use airtight containers or freezer bags.
Canned chili can last for several months, but it’s best to consume it soon after opening the can to avoid the risk of foodborne illness. If you want to consume leftover chili, heat it to 165 degrees before eating it. To enjoy leftover chili, spoon it over tortilla chips, eggs, and hotdogs.
How Long does Homemade Chili Con Carne Last in the Fridge?
If homemade chili con carne is stored properly, it will keep for about three to four days at room temperature. It can also last for about four to six months if you freeze it. If your child has hot peppers, the freezing process will increase the heat. The key is to use an airtight container or freezer bag to avoid freezer burn.
While chili can be stored for a few days, it is not ideal for long-term storage. Bacteria thrive in a temperature range between 40 and 140 degrees. While this is not the ideal temperature for a dish, it can help extend its shelf life. The chili should be heated to at least 165 degrees before serving, but keep in mind that it may not stay safe in the fridge if left unattended for a long time.
If you have leftover chili, let it cool for at least two hours before putting it in the fridge. Otherwise, it will warm up quickly and disrupt the temperature balance in the refrigerator. Also, it’s essential to store leftover chili in an airtight container to avoid the growth of unwanted bacteria and foreign materials.
How to Freeze Vegetarian Chilli?
Vegetarian chili is flavorful and nutritious whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or meat eater. It makes a nice midweek supper without packing on the calories.
But is a vegetarian chili freezer-friendly?
Yes, you certainly can! The process for freezing vegetarian chili is the same as for freezing chili with carne.
These directions are the same as the ones before. Therefore we’ve outlined them briefly:
Cool: Prepare your vegetarian chili and let it sit at room temperature to cool completely.
Portion into freezer bags and bag up. Use this as a reference to determine how much food to freeze in each bag; we recommend 250g servings per person.
Seal: Close the bag by squeezing as much air as possible, then seal.
Place in the freezer to freeze.
How to Thaw Frozen Chili Con Carne?
The freezer bag should be kept in the refrigerator overnight to thaw chili. If you’re pressed for time, you can also defrost it in the microwave for 3 minutes on the defrost or low heat setting. The time needed will depend on how big the portion is. Make sure to check it frequently to prevent overheating.
After defrosting, put the chili in a pot and heat it over medium-low heat until it is thick and the desired temperature is reached. Add some spices or a dash of cayenne to restore its robust flavor. Add some cornstarch to the chili to thicken it if it has lost some of its spice and has become watery.
3 Tips for Freezing Chilli Con Carne
You now know how to freeze chili con carne, and for the best results, we strongly advise that you use the following 3 top tips:
- Portion it
To make it much simpler to grab a suitable amount whenever you want chili for dinner, make sure to freeze the chili in portions. - Use Bags
Typically, chili con carne is awash in vivid, powerful hues. Those hues easily stain tupperware containers. Use freezer bags instead. - Thaw then Reheat
It would be best if you allowed enough time for the chili con carne to thaw overnight. The next day, pour the ingredients into a big pan and heat them slowly until they are piping hot. It is prepared for serving without any fuss and with hardly any cleanup.
How do you Make Chili Con Carne Taste Even Better?
Chili is a simple dish that you can customize to your tastes. You can use any beef you like, swap out the water for beef broth for better beef flavor, increase the cayenne for more heat, and top the dish with fresh oregano for color. You can also try any of these hidden ingredients to improve your chili.
What to Serve with Sin Carne Chili?
This dish can be served with cauliflower rice instead of the rice or tortillas I’ve chosen to serve it with. It’s an excellent low-carb substitute for traditional rice and adds even more nutritious vegetables to the meal.
Nothing is more satisfying than a baked potato or sweet potato with homemade chili. You can quickly and easily reheat leftover vegan chili while heating a potato. Then, you can enjoy your meal.
For advice on perfecting the potato, see our guide to making the best microwave-baked potato.
Does Chilli Con Carne Freeze Well?
One of the best batch-cooked meals you can make is chili con carne because of how well it freezes.
You won’t be able to tell the difference between a chili con carne from the freezer and one you made fresh as long as you freeze it as soon as possible after making it (once it has cooled, of course), freeze it for no longer than three months, and thaw then reheat it slowly.
Conclusion
The good news is that chili lovers can rejoice. When made with a tomato base and no dairy additions, chili con carne freezes exceptionally well and can be easily defrosted and heated for a filling meal months after preparation. Cook once, and feast frequently! There are many simple crockpot chili recipes that you can use to make this dish, which is both convenient and delicious.
Chili con carne should be frozen the same day it is made to keep it fresh and prevent freezer burn by sealing out any air in the freezer bag.
Pull the leftover chili out of the freezer when you’re short on time or even just feeling a little lazy and serve it hot over a baked potato with shredded cheese, with tortilla chips, stuffed in a sandwich or burger, or even as the filling for a wrap. You can make a variety of mouthwatering chili dishes and sides. Buenos Dias!
