Nilaga: How Long It Lasts In Room Temperature, The Fridge and Freezer

If you’ve ever cooked too much nilaga to eat in one sitting, you might be wondering how long you can keep it until it spoils. After all, nilaga is a staple Filipino dish, but nobody wants to eat the same thing more than a couple times in a row.

Nilaga can last for 2 hours in room temperature, 4 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer. In order to maintain absolute freshness, make sure to store nilaga in an airtight container if it will not be eaten immediately.

Still have questions? Let’s dive in.

How long can Nilaga last?

Nilaga is a traditional Filipino dish made with beef and vegetables cooked in broth. It is typically served with rice and can be enjoyed for days. Here we will talk about how long nilaga can last in room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the fridge.

Room temperature

This is the trickiest part of answering this question. Officially, health officials say that broths or soups are good to stay in room temperature for only two hours. However, from personal experience, the answer is a little bit more complicated than that.

If you live in a cool climate, you can leave Nilaga out overnight and it will still be fine to eat the next day. I have done this many many times, and can attest that it will still taste just as delicious the next day. One caveat is that if you have never done this before, and you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to err on the side of caution and not eat nilaga that’s been kept out in room temperature overnight.

However, if you live in hotter climates, you will want to cool down the nilaga first, and then put the leftovers in the fridge right away in order to prevent it from spoiling. That is because in general, most foods spoil faster in warmer weather.

Fridge

Nilaga is a type of Filipino soup that is typically made with beef, potatoes, and vegetables. The soup is hearty and filling, and leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to four days. To ensure that your nilaga stays fresh for as long as possible, be sure to cool it down completely before storing it in the fridge. You may also want to consider portioning it out into individual servings, in order to prevent warming up and then cooling down the nilaga multiple times. When reheating nilaga, be sure to bring it to a boil first in order to kill any bacteria that may have formed during storage. Whether you’re reheating a single serving or the whole pot, nilaga is best enjoyed fresh and piping hot.

Freezer

Have you ever made a big batch of Nilaga and wondered how long you could keep it in the freezer? Nilaga is a Filipino soup made with beef, potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. The beef is usually boiled until tender, making it a great dish for leftover cooked meat. If you have leftovers from your Nilaga meal, you can store them in the freezer for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy your Nilaga again, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stove. You’ll be able to enjoy a delicious bowl of soup that tastes just as good as the day you made it.

What’s the difference between bulalo and nilaga? Click here to read the post.

Can I eat Nilaga after 5 days?

The short answer is yes, you can eat Nilaga after five days. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, Nilaga is a soup dish made with beef, vegetables, and broth. The beef and vegetables are usually cooked for several hours, resulting in a very rich and flavorful soup. However, this also means that the leftovers will be quite dry. As a result, it’s important to add additional broth or water when reheating the soup. Additionally, you may want to add some fresh vegetables to the soup to give it a boost of flavor. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy delicious Nilaga even after five days.

See below for a step by step guide on how to warm up nilaga on stovetop.

How to warm up nilaga on stovetop:

1. Place a pot on the stove and turn it to medium heat
2. Add nilaga to the pot
3. Bring the soup to a boil
4. Let it simmer for 10 minutes
5. Turn off the heat and let it sit for 5 more minutes

By the way, I wrote an article on how long you have to boil beef shank to make beef nilaga here.

How to store nilaga

See below for a step by step guide on how to store nilaga in the fridge or in the freezer.

Fridge

1. Cool down Nilaga completely before storing in fridge
2. Consider portioning out into individual servings
3. Store in fridge for 3-4 days

Freezer

1. Let the nilaga cool down completely before storing in the freezer
2. Portion it out into individual servings if possible
3. Store in a sealed container or bag
4. Label the container or bag with the date of storage
5. Place in the freezer and enjoy for up to six months

Can I leave out Nilaga overnight?

So you’re wondering if you can leave your nilaga (beef stew) overnight? The answer is maybe. If you live in cooler climate and don’t have a sensitive stomach then it is totally fine to leave out nilaga overnight. You can be sure that you can still enjoy this delicious food when you wake up in the morning.

Does Nilaga soup spoil easily?

Nilaga is a traditional Filipino soup made with beef, potatoes, and vegetables. The soup is typically cooked for several hours, allowing the flavors to meld together. Because of the lengthy cooking time, Nilaga is often made in large batches and then reheated as needed. But does this mean that Nilaga soup spoils easily?

The answer is no. Nilaga soup actually improves with age, as the flavors have more time to develop. Additionally, the long cooking time helps to kill any bacteria that might be present in the ingredients. However, it is important to make sure that the soup is properly refrigerated after it has been cooked. Otherwise, it can spoil just like any other food. So go ahead and make a big pot of Nilaga soup – it will be delicious, even if you have to reheat it a few times!

If you’re curious about the origin of nilaga, check out this post where I did a deep dive on its history.