How long does Soup last in the fridge?

Turning the range into a date

Soup keeps 3–4 days in the fridge. Enter a day and each row becomes a calendar date, worked out in your browser.

• In the freezerBest quality by2 months to 3 months after the day you stored it
• In the fridgeUse by3 days to 4 days after the day you stored it

Every storage figure the USDA publishes for this item

USDA FoodKeeper files Soup, stews under Deli & Prepared Foods.

• In the freezer2 months to 3 months
• In the fridge3 days to 4 days

What USDA FSIS and the FDA say about this food

For: Soup, stews

Cooked Meat, Poultry, and Fish Leftovers

Soups and Stews3-4 days

USDA FSIS, Refrigeration & Food Safety, retrieved 4 November 2026. Quoted word for word.

For: Soup, stews

ItemMonths

Soups and Stews2 to 3

USDA FSIS, Freezing and Food Safety, retrieved 4 November 2026. Quoted word for word.

For: Soup, stews

Cool Food Rapidly

To prevent bacterial growth, it's important to cool food rapidly so it reaches as fast as possible the safe refrigerator-storage temperature of 40° F or below. To do this, divide large amounts of food into shallow containers. A big pot of soup, for example, will take a long time to cool, inviting bacteria to multiply and increasing the danger of foodborne illness. Instead, divide the pot of soup into smaller containers so it will cool quickly.

USDA FSIS, Leftovers and Food Safety, retrieved 4 November 2026. Quoted word for word.

Other foods on the same USDA shelf

• Poultry pieces, covered with gravy or broth3–4 days in the fridge
• Leftovers3–4 days in the fridgewith meat, fish, poultry, or egg
• Fruit, cut4 days in the fridge once opened
• Guacamole3–4 days in the fridge
• Main dishes or meals, hot or refrigerated3–4 days in the fridge
• Chicken salad3–4 days in the fridge

Food safety rules that apply to every food

• Keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C). The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C).
• Never allow meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or produce or other foods that require refrigeration to sit at room temperature for more than two hours—one hour if the air temperature is above 90° F.
• Though food will be safe indefinitely at 0° F, quality will decrease the longer the food is in the freezer.
• Never thaw food at room temperature, such as on the counter top. There are three safe ways to defrost food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, and in the microwave. Food thawed in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
• Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
• If you're not sure or if the food looks questionable, throw it out.

Sources: FDA: are you storing food safely · FDA: safe food handling · USDA FSIS: safe defrosting.

Where these numbers come from

Every figure and note on this page is reproduced from USDA FoodKeeper as published; the calendar date is the only arithmetic, and it runs in your browser.

Source: USDA FoodKeeper, retrieved 1 September 2026. A figure that does not match the source? Tell us. How the site is built.

USDA index terms: Soup, stew, stews

KeepsUntil is an independent reference built on public USDA data. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration. Storage times are reproduced from USDA FoodKeeper as published; when in doubt, follow the FDA and USDA FSIS guidance linked on every food page.