How Long Does Chia Pudding Last? [2 Minute Primer]

Got leftover chia pudding and wondering if it’s still safe to eat? How long does chia pudding last, actually?

Here’s a short primer on the shelf life, storage practices, and spoilage signs of chia pudding.

• Shelf life
• Spoilage
• Freezing

How Long Does Chia Pudding Last?

Chia pudding lasts for 5 to 7 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure the container is always sealed tight, and always use clean spoons for scooping.

If that’s not long enough, you can freeze extra chia pudding.

That storage period stays true pretty much no matter which recipe you go with and whether you use dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or water to make the pudding.

Of course, if you’re topping your chia pudding with fresh fruit (or anything else, for that matter), that topping might lose quality sooner. If so, consider making the pudding plain and adding any extras only before serving.

Finally, if those 5 to 7 days seem like a long period, you can go with the standard leftovers storage advice that suggests using any perishable leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

Now, let’s say your chia pudding has been in the fridge for the past five days, and you want to ensure it’s okay to eat. How do you go about that?

Spoilage Signs

Use your senses to tell if your chia pudding is safe to eat. Toss the chia dessert if it’s moldy, its color has changed, it smells funky, the texture is altered, or it tastes off. Do the same if it’s been in the fridge for over a week.

There’s no rocket science here. If you see, smell, or taste anything odd or funny, it’s better to play it safe and discard the pudding.

Can you Freeze Chia Pudding?

You can freeze chia pudding in portion-sized containers. Prep the pudding as usual, then divide it into individual containers if you have everything in a single one. Finally, place the containers in the freezer.

This way, whenever you crave chia pudding, you transfer a single container from the freezer to the fridge and have the pudding nice and thawed the following day. All that’s left is to give it a good stir, and it’s ready for you to eat.

The only downside of freezing chia pudding is that any fresh fruit you add as topping will turn soft and watery after thawing.

So, if you don’t find defrosted fruit palatable (I definitely don’t), freeze only the pudding and add fresh fruit before serving. Your taste buds will thank you.