How Long Does Cod Last?
Raw cod lasts 1–2 days in the fridge and 6–8 months in the freezer at best quality. Cooked cod keeps 3–4 days refrigerated and should not sit out longer than 2 hours.
Cod — raw
shelf life- Cooked: 3–4 days in the fridge
- Thawed: 1–2 days in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Cod is a lean, mild, large-flaked white fish from cold northern waters, sold as thick loins and fillets, fresh or frozen at sea. Its high moisture and low fat mean it spoils within days in the fridge but freezes exceptionally well, since there is little oil to go rancid. Wild cod can also carry visible parasites that proper cooking or freezing destroys.
How to store cod
- Cod weeps a lot of liquid. Unwrap it, pat it dry, and store it on a rack or paper towel inside a covered container so the fillet does not sit in its own drip.
- Set the container on ice or in the coldest spot of the fridge and cook within 2 days of purchase, sooner for thin tail pieces.
- For the freezer, wrap each loin tightly in plastic wrap and then foil or a freezer bag. Cod's open flake dries out and turns cottony wherever air reaches it.
- Thaw frozen cod in the fridge on a plate lined with paper towels, then press it dry before cooking; waterlogged cod steams instead of searing and falls apart.
How to tell if cod has gone bad
- A sour, cabbage-like or ammonia smell instead of a clean, briny scent.
- Flesh turning from translucent white to chalky, yellowed or gray, with a slimy, milky coating.
- Flakes that gape apart and feel mushy in the raw fillet.
- Frozen cod with dry, white, leathery patches is freezer-burned: safe, but tough and flavorless in those spots.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Cod shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | 1–2 days | 6–8 months | Not safe |
| Cooked | 3–4 days | 2–3 months | Not safe |
| Battered or breaded cod stays safe for the same time but loses its crispness after a day. | |||
| Thawed | 1–2 days | Not recommended | Not safe |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
How long does cod last in the fridge?
Raw cod lasts 1–2 days in the fridge, and cooked cod lasts 3–4 days. Those times assume a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder. If the fish counter cannot tell you when the cod was thawed or delivered, plan to cook it the same day.
I found a worm in my cod. Is it safe to eat?
Small coiled worms are a known, natural occurrence in wild cod, and they are killed by cooking the fish to 145°F (63°C) or by commercial freezing. Pick out any you see and cook the fillet thoroughly. They are unpleasant but not a sign of spoilage; do not eat wild cod raw or undercooked.
Can you freeze fresh cod?
Yes, cod is one of the best fish for freezing and holds its quality for 6–8 months at 0°F (−18°C). Freeze it on the day you buy it, wrapped airtight. Avoid refreezing cod that the store had already thawed, because a second freeze makes the flakes watery and soft.
How long does leftover fish and chips last?
Leftover battered cod keeps 3–4 days in the fridge if it was refrigerated within 2 hours. Reheat it in a hot oven or air fryer to 165°F (74°C) rather than the microwave, which makes the batter soggy. Fries from the same meal follow the same 3–4 day limit.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halibut Raw |
1–2 days | 6–8 months | Not safe |
| Tilapia Raw |
1–2 days | 6–8 months | Not safe |
| Frozen Fish Sticks Unopened |
1 day | 3–4 months | Not safe |
| Mahi-Mahi Raw |
1–2 days | 6–8 months | Not safe |
| Salmon Raw |
1–2 days | 2–3 months | Not safe |
| Scallops Raw |
1–2 days | 3–6 months | Not safe |
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.