We’re all spending a lot more time at home now, sifting through our pantries and refrigerators. Produce and meat we know are use it or lose it. But what about all those condiments? You know, the kind of stuff you dip into occasionally — the kind of stuff you are definitely not going to make a special trip to the store for.
Before getting into the specifics of how long these various items will last, here are a few tips:
- Keep track of how long the bottle or jar has been open. It may be too late for what’s already in your pantry or refrigerator, but in the future you can make a concerted effort to label the container with the date you opened it. Write it on with permanent marker, slap on a piece of painter’s or masking tape, whatever. Don’t rely on the best-by dates since that tells you nothing about when you actually opened the food.
- According to the Ohio State University Extension, items that can be stored at room temperature — either before or after opening — should be in a cool, dark place. Avoid warmer cabinets near the oven/cooktop, dishwasher and refrigerator exhaust.
- Refrigeration can extend the life and quality (color, flavor, texture) of items that could also be stored in the pantry, such as hot sauce and peanut butter. Here’s what the government says with regard to shelf-stable mustard, mayo, barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salsa: “Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time. … Quality, not safety, is the reason the labels on these products suggest that they be refrigerated after opening.”
- Use common sense. Below you’ll find the government-recommended storage times, but we’re realists. We know most of us keep things around longer than the guidelines suggest. They are a helpful baseline, however. If you decide to go beyond them, be attentive to signs of spoilage — mold, suspicious odors, etc.
And now to the details. These guidelines have been pulled from the FoodKeeper database (also available as a phone app) at foodsafety.gov and this chart from the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service. Unless otherwise noted, each category includes how long the unopened product can be stored in your pantry unopened followed by suggested refrigeration time after opening.
Barbecue sauce: 1 year; 4 months (see note above on shelf-stable).
Chutney: 1 year; 1 to 2 months.
Hoisin: 18 to 24 months; 3 to 6 months.
Honey: Consume within 2 years (store in pantry).
Horseradish: 12 months when stored in refrigerator; 3 to 4 months refrigerated after opening.
Hot sauce: 9 to 12 months; 6 months in the pantry after opening, although refrigeration will better retain heat.
Jams, jellies and preserves: 6 to 18 months; 6 to 12 months.
Jarred pesto: 6 to 9 months; 7 days.
Jarred spaghetti sauce: 18 months; 4 days.
Ketchup: 1 years; 6 months (see note above on shelf-stable).
Maple syrup: Consume within 12 months if stored in pantry, refrigeration will extend life.
Mayonnaise: 3 to 6 months; 2 months (see note above on shelf-stable).
Mustard: 1 to 2 years; 1 year (see note above on shelf-stable).
Oyster sauce: 18 to 24 months; 3 to 6 months.
Peanut butter: 1 year when stored in refrigerator and 3 to 4 months refrigerated after opening (natural); 6 to 9 months when stored in pantry or 12 months stored in refrigerator, 2 to 3 months in pantry or 3 to 4 months refrigerated after opening (commercial, stabilized).
Pickles: 1 year; 1 to 3 months.
Relish: 30 months; 9 months.
Salad dressing: 10 to 12 months; 1 to 3 months.
Salsa: 1 year; 1 month (see note above on shelf-stable).
Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce: 3 years; 1 month.
Tahini: 1 year; 3 weeks.
Vinegar: Can last essentially indefinitely, though KSU suggests 2 years in the pantry unopened and 1 year opened.
Worcestershire sauce: 1 year (unopened or opened) in pantry.
FAQs
After opening condiments, you can refrigerate them for the following times: ketchup, co*cktail or chili sauce 6 months. chutney, 1 to 2 months. horseradish, 3 to 4 months.
How long do condiments last in the refrigerator? ›
Here are their guidelines for how long you can keep opened containers of common condiments (commercially produced, not homemade) in your refrigerator: BBQ Sauce: 4 months. Capers: 1 year (brined) Horseradish: 3-4 months (prepared)
Should I throw out expired condiments? ›
From garlic aioli to remoulade and tartar sauces, there are all kinds of dipping sauces and spreads that contain mayo, and Berger says it's best practice to toss them when they're expired. “Another general rule of thumb is if a dip or condiment tastes different from when you first open it, throw it out,” she says.
What condiments have the longest shelf life? ›
How Long Do Condiment Packets Last?
- Indefinitely: Honey, salt and sugar.
- 4 years: Vinegar, hot sauces and pepper.
- 3 years: Jam and jelly.
- 2 years: Parmesan, soy sauce, mustard, oil and taco sauce.
- 1 year: Barbecue sauce, tartar sauce, mayo, ketchup, relish and salad dressing.
Unopened, many condiments will last about one year in the pantry. 1 You can determine a more specific timeline by checking the "use by" or "best by" date on the packaging. Even then, the listed date will indicate when the quality of the item will decline, rather than its safety, says Kimberly Baker, Ph.
Which condiment never goes bad? ›
Much like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce has a relatively high salt and acid content, which act as preservatives, explains Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That's just one reason you can keep an unopened bottle of Worcestershire sauce for five years.
How long can you keep mayonnaise in the fridge? ›
Once you open it up, you've got to store mayo in the fridge. Sir Kensington's notes that refrigerated mayonnaise will "be safe to enjoy approximately 2 months after you first open your jar or bottle." The USDA also recommends storing open mayo in the fridge and tossing it after 2 months.
Is it bad to eat expired condiments? ›
Condiments do expire, so it's important to keep an eye on your shelves full of sauces. Any food that's too old can grow bacteria and lose or change its taste over time—even canned food doesn't last forever. The best-case scenario is that your old hot sauce tastes stale instead of spicy.
Which condiments should not be refrigerated? ›
Shelf-stable condiments, like stone ground mustard, red wine vinegar, strawberry preserves, and wing sauce, don't need to be as cold as other perishable foods like milk, eggs, and meat, so they can hang out on your refrigerator door.
Can you eat expired mayo if refrigerated? ›
For safety reasons, it's suggested not to eat mayonnaise after the expiration date on the jar. Unopened jars of mayo that have been sitting in the pantry should be thrown out once it is a week past their best-by date. Opened jars, when refrigerated, should be thrown out by the one-month mark past its best-by date.
12 Nonperishable Foods That Really Never Expire
- Baking soda: Lasts indefinitely, though it can lose its leavening power over time. ...
- Beans and legumes (dried, in general). ...
- Corn syrup.
- Hard liquor.
Canned Foods
The old grocery store standby is canned goods. If well-packaged and kept out of extreme elements, canned foods — including fruits, vegetables, meats and even certain dairy — can last for years on the shelf.
Does Worcestershire sauce need to be refrigerated? ›
Like vinegar, Worcestershire sauce does not need to be refrigerated. Whether unopened or open it can be stored in the pantry for two years.
Does Worcestershire sauce expire? ›
Once opened, a bottle of Worcestershire sauce should be kept refrigerated and tightly sealed. Refrigeration helps to preserve the sauce's flavors and extend its shelf life. Generally, an opened bottle can retain its quality for up to three years, provided it is stored properly in the fridge.
Do mustard and ketchup need to be refrigerated? ›
The guidelines at FoodSafety.gov state that shelf-stable products like mustard, mayo, barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salsa will benefit from being stored in the fridge. "Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time."
Does ketchup expire? ›
Does Ketchup Go Bad? Yes, ketchup can go bad. If unopened, commercial ketchup “can last for up to a year in your pantry,” says Okegbe, but once opened and refrigerated, it should ideally be consumed within six months. If left in the pantry once opened, use up the ketchup within a month to be safe.
Do condiments go out of date? ›
Yes! Condiments do expire, so it's important to keep an eye on your shelves full of sauces. Any food that's too old can grow bacteria and lose or change its taste over time—even canned food doesn't last forever. The best-case scenario is that your old hot sauce tastes stale instead of spicy.
What condiment should not be refrigerated? ›
Shelf-stable condiments, like stone ground mustard, red wine vinegar, strawberry preserves, and wing sauce, don't need to be as cold as other perishable foods like milk, eggs, and meat, so they can hang out on your refrigerator door.
How long is a sandwich with mayonnaise good for in the fridge? ›
General Guidelines for Sandwich Storage
The typical refrigerator life of a sandwich can range from 3 to 5 days. The key is to ensure that the fridge temperature is consistently at or below 40°F to prevent bacterial growth.
Why don t restaurants refrigerate condiments? ›
“Many restaurants and fast food places don't refrigerate their ketchup,” responded another Twitter user. “It's because they go through it so quickly that it doesn't have time to spoil. However, they usually store their ketchup in a cool, dry place to keep it from going bad or spoiling.”
