How Long Does Pizza Last?
Leftover pizza lasts 3–4 days in the fridge and 1–2 months in the freezer. Pizza left out for more than 2 hours, including overnight in the box, should be thrown away.
Pizza — cooked
shelf lifeFridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Leftover pizza is baked dough topped with tomato sauce, cheese and often meat or vegetables. Once it cools, the moist cheese and toppings are a perishable cooked food like any other, even though the dry crust makes it look sturdy. The cardboard delivery box does nothing to keep it cold or sealed, so how you store it matters more than the toppings.
How to store pizza
- Get slices into the fridge within 2 hours of delivery or baking; the clock starts when the pizza arrives, not when you finish eating.
- Take the slices out of the cardboard box. Stack them on a plate with parchment or paper towel between layers and wrap tightly, so the crust does not dry out and the cheese does not absorb fridge odors.
- To freeze, wrap each slice in plastic wrap or foil, then put the wrapped slices in a freezer bag with the air pressed out.
- Reheat in a covered skillet over medium-low heat or in a 375°F (190°C) oven until the cheese bubbles and the slice is steaming hot; the microwave is safe but turns the crust rubbery.
- Reheat frozen slices straight from the freezer in the oven; there is no need to thaw them first.
How to tell if pizza has gone bad
- Fuzzy white, green or gray mold spots on the crust edge or under the cheese.
- A sour or rancid smell from the cheese or meat toppings when the container is opened.
- A slimy, wet film on the cheese, pepperoni or vegetables.
- A crust that is merely hard and dry is stale, not spoiled, but pizza past 4 days should go regardless of how it looks.
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.
Pizza shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooked | 3–4 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Applies to delivery, restaurant and homemade pizza alike, with or without meat toppings. | |||
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
Is pizza left out overnight safe to eat?
No. Pizza that sat at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown away, and overnight is far past that limit. Cheese, sauce and meat toppings support bacterial growth, and some bacteria produce toxins that reheating does not destroy. The pizza may look and smell completely normal, because the germs that cause food poisoning do not change its appearance.
How long is leftover pizza good for in the fridge?
Leftover pizza is good for 3–4 days in a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or colder, provided it was refrigerated within 2 hours. That applies to plain cheese pizza as well as meat-topped pizza. If you know you will not finish it in that time, freeze the slices on the first day instead.
Can you freeze leftover pizza?
Yes. Individually wrapped slices keep their best quality for 1–2 months at 0°F (−18°C) and stay safe beyond that. After a couple of months the crust dries out and the cheese picks up freezer flavors. Reheat from frozen in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 12–15 minutes.
Is it safe to eat cold pizza straight from the fridge?
Yes, cold pizza is safe if it was refrigerated within 2 hours and is no more than 3–4 days old. It was fully cooked the first time, so reheating is a matter of taste rather than safety. If you do reheat it, bring it to 165°F (74°C).
Can I eat pizza that is 5 days old?
It is best not to. The USDA's recommended limit for cooked leftovers is 3–4 days, and after that the risk of food poisoning rises even when the slice looks fine. Refrigeration slows bacteria but does not stop them, and a smell check cannot detect the ones that make you sick.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Pizza Unopened |
1 day | 12–18 months | Not safe |
| Pizza Dough Homemade |
1–3 days | 2–3 months | Not recommended |
| Pepperoni Opened |
2–3 weeks | 1–2 months | Not recommended |
| Mozzarella Opened |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
| Lasagna Cooked |
3–4 days | 2–3 months | Not safe |
| Chinese Takeout Cooked |
3–4 days | 2–3 months | Not safe |
More takeout & delivery: Fried Chicken.
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.