Although everyone is aware that condiments can make or break a meal by bringing a hint of sweetness or sour or spicy flavors, have you ever wondered how long these delightful additions actually last?
Have you ever wondered how long your condiment would keep fresh as you reach for the bottle of ketchup or the spoonful of mayonnaise?
How Long Do Condiments Last?
The majority of condiments, such as mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, and relish, have a shelf life of one week in the refrigerator or one month in the freezer. However, if these products are kept at room temperature, their shelf life will be reduced.
You’re in the correct place, therefore, as today’s topic will be the shelf life of condiments and the best methods for storing them.
See Also: When to Throw Out Condiments?
How Long Do Condiments Last? – Guide
Any food benefits from the flavor and excitement that condiments bring, but have you ever considered how long they last?
Knowing the shelf life of your condiments will help you use them before they spoil and even give you a stomach ache. Here are some recommendations for how long certain condiments should last.
Expires Soon Condiments
Some condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, and soy sauce, are shelf-stable, which means they don’t require refrigeration and can be kept at room temperature.
Because they contain salt, sugar, or vinegar to help preserve the goods, these types of condiments typically have a lengthy shelf life. Here is a summary of how long shelf-stable condiments should last:
- Ketchup: Ketchup has a shelf life of up to a year after its “best by” date. It can be stored in the pantry for up to 6 months and in the refrigerator for up to 1 month after opening.
- Mustard: Mustard can remain unopened for up to a year after its “best by” date. It can be stored in the pantry for up to 6 months and in the refrigerator for up to 3 months after opening.
- Soy sauce: Soy sauce can remain unopened for up to two years after its “best by” date. It can be stored in the pantry for up to a year and in the refrigerator for up to six months after opening.
Temp-Controlled Condiments
Because they contain dairy or eggs, other condiments like mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and barbecue sauce must be kept in the refrigerator because they will spoil if left out at room temperature. The shelf life of chilled condiments is broken down as follows:
- Mayonnaise: Unopened mayonnaise can be stored in the pantry for up to two months after its “best by” date and in the refrigerator for up to three months. It must be consumed within two to three months of opening.
- Ranch dressing: In the pantry and refrigerator, unopened ranch dressing can be stored for up to 2 months after its “best by” date. It must be used within a month of being opened.
- BBQ sauce: Unopened barbecue sauce can be stored in the pantry for up to a year after its “best by” date and in the refrigerator for up to six months. It must be utilized within 3 to 4 months of being opened.
Condiments created at home
It’s vital to keep in mind that homemade condiments won’t last as long as ones you buy at the market because they lack preservatives. The shelf life of home-made condiments is broken down as follows:
- Ketchup: Homemade ketchup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- In the refrigerator, homemade mustard can last for up to a month.
- Soy sauce: Homemade soy sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- Mayonnaise: You should consume homemade mayonnaise within two to three days.
- Ranch dressing: You should consume homemade ranch dressing within 5-7 days.
- BBQ sauce: Homemade barbecue sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Expiring Seasonings
Check the expiration dates on your condiments and discard any that are past their best-before dates.
Consuming outdated condiments seldom results in illness, although over time, they might lose flavor and power.
It is preferable to throw away a condiment if it has an odd texture or odor. If you want to know if a condiment is still edible, utilize your senses. For instance, ketchup should be thrown out if it smells musty or has an odd tint.
Also, toss out any mustard that has separated or smells rancid. Useless soy sauce is that which has thickened or developed a bad odor.
Throw away any mayonnaise that has separated or has a sour odor. Never use ranch dressing that smells bad or has turned runny.
BBQ sauce that smells funny or has mold developing on it should be thrown away. To ensure that condiments last as long as possible, correct storage is essential.
Ideally, condiments that are shelf-stable should be kept out of direct sunlight in a cold, dry environment.
Both homemade condiments and condiments that need to be refrigerated should be kept in the refrigerator.
Always remember to thoroughly wash the jar’s rim and lid before sealing it to avoid infection.
How Long Do Condiments Last in the Fridge?
Depending on the type and storage method, condiments in the refrigerator have varying shelf lives. Here is a list of how long certain condiments will keep in the refrigerator:
- Ketchup: Once opened, ketchup can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- Mustard: Once opened, mustard can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three months.
- Soy sauce: Once opened, soy sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months.
- Mayonnaise: After opening, mayonnaise must be consumed within two to three months.
- Ranch: Once opened, ranch dressing needs to be consumed within a month.
- BBQ sauce: After opening, barbecue sauce must be consumed within three to four months.
To ensure that condiments last as long as possible, it’s critical to keep them properly in the refrigerator.
Always remember to thoroughly wash the jar’s rim and lid before sealing it to avoid infection.
It is preferable to throw away a condiment if it has an odd texture or odor. If you want to know if a condiment is still edible, utilize your senses. For instance, ketchup should be thrown out if it smells musty or has an odd tint.
Also, toss out any mustard that has separated or smells rancid. Useless soy sauce is that which has thickened or developed a bad odor.
Throw away any mayonnaise that has separated or has a sour odor. Never use ranch dressing that smells bad or has turned runny. BBQ sauce that smells funny or has mold developing on it should be thrown away.
Conclusion
In essence, the type of condiment and how it is stored affect its shelf life. While condiments that are refrigerated should be consumed within a few months of opening, shelf-stable condiments can remain unused for up to a year.
The shelf life of homemade condiments is limited, so they should be consumed within a week or two.
To know if a condiment is still edible, it’s always a good idea to look at the expiration date and use your senses.
The shelf life and safety of condiments can both be increased with proper handling and storage. You may find this blog post useful in learning how long condiments last.
Read Also: What Condiment Goes with Pastrami?
I am an accomplished tech writer with a passion for simplifying complex technology concepts. With a background in Tech, James has dedicated their career to making the intricacies of the digital world accessible to a broad audience.
