Wondering if your condiments really expire? Use this guide on how long condiments last to decide what can stay and what needs to go—whether it's mayo, mustard or miso.
1/19
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What’s the Shelf Life of Mayonnaise?
Unopened: 3 months at room temperature
After opening: 2 months in the fridge
Tangy and sweet, mayo is delicious on a BLT sandwich, in your deviled eggs, and in chicken or egg salad recipes. With so many delicious uses, you’ll probably use it up long before you have to wonder: How long does mayo last for? Or, does mayo go bad?
Before it’s opened, a jar of mayo will last in the pantry for about three months. If you just opened a jar, know that it should be stored in the refrigerator and used within two months. However, if you make homemade mayonnaise, it will last only up to a week in the fridge—so make plans to use it all up before then.
If you like mayo, you should try aioli, too. It’s very similar to mayonnaise, but it always includes garlic and often another flavor, like Sriracha or roasted red pepper. Aioli typically has the same shelf life as homemade mayo.
2/19
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How Long Does Barbecue Sauce Last?
Unopened: 12 months at room temperature
After opening: 4 months in the fridge, 1 month at room temperature
Whether it’s smoky and sweet or hot and spicy, you can store an unopened bottle of barbecue sauce in your pantry for up to a year. Once opened, it’ll keep in the pantry for another month, or in the refrigerator for four months. Go ahead and stock up on the best barbecue sauce brands, or try your hand at one of our favorite barbecue sauce recipes.
3/19
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How Long Does Honey Last?
Honey doesn’t expire!
Believe it or not, honey doesn’t expire as long as it’s stored correctly. Keep that sealed jar of honey in the pantry until you’re ready to enjoy it. Once opened, honey can stay in the pantry; just make sure to screw the lid back on tightly. If you notice your honey is forming crystals, it’s still perfectly safe to eat.
4/19
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How Long Does Hot Sauce Last?
Unopened: 3 to 4 years at room temperature
After opening: 1 to 2 years in the fridge, 6 months in the pantry
Given its spicy ingredients, hot sauce has a super-long shelf life. Before it’s opened, hot sauce can hang out in the pantry for three to four years. An open bottle of hot sauce can be stored in the pantry for six months or in the refrigerator (where it will remain fresher) for one to two years. Check out our ultimate guide to hot sauces to figure out which sauce is best for you.
Whether served with pita chips or chopped vegetables, hummus is a convenient and healthy treat. Store packaged hummus in the refrigerator, unopened, until the “best-by” date printed on the side. After opening, hummus is best used within a week.
Our Test Kitchen’s favorite homemade hummus recipe also lasts in the fridge for up to a week. We’ve also got a guide to making homemade hummus, if you prefer to follow along with directions step by step.
6/19
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How Long Is Jam Good For?
Unopened: 3 years at room temperature
After opening: 6 to 12 months in the fridge
Jams, jellies and preserves will remain fresh for up to three years before being opened. After opening, these sweet spreads should be used 6 to 12 months when stored in the refrigerator. By the way, this is the difference between jam, jelly and other preserves when you’re sifting through our best jam and jelly recipes.
7/19
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How Long Does Ketchup Last?
Unopened: 1 year at room temperature
After opening: 6 months in the fridge
Did you know that the average American eats 71 pounds of ketchup annually? That’s a lot of tomatoes! An open bottle of ketchup should be used within six months if stored in the refrigerator or one year if stored, unopened, in the pantry. This same timeline applies to cocktail sauce. If you make homemade ketchup, it will last in the fridge for up to one week.
You can also make banana ketchup, which is just a bit sweeter than regular ketchup, although you can still serve it with hot dogs and french fries.
8/19
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How Long Does Mustard Last?
Unopened: 2 years at room temperature
After opening: 1 year in the fridge
Perfect as a hot dog topper or pretzel dipper, mustard has a great shelf life. Keep unopened mustard in your pantry for about two years. An open jar can be stored for one year in the refrigerator.
We can’t be the only ones with at least four different varieties of store-bought salad dressing open at the same time, right? Ranch dressing is one we have stocked no matter what. Salad dressing should be stored in the refrigerator and used within three months of opening. Before they’re opened, you can store those bottles at room temperature for a year.
Unopened: 2 years past the best-by date at room temperature
After opening: 2 years in the fridge, 6 months at room temperature
The uber popular hot sauce goes with practically anything—eggs, chicken, rice, pork, noodles, sandwiches, wings and so much more. It’s made with chiles, sugar, salt, garlic, vinegar, although the exact recipe varies by manufacturer. In fact, it’s is top secret at Huy Fong Foods, the cult-favorite Sriracha company.
Before opening, Sriracha should last for two years past the best-by date in the pantry. Once you open it, you can choose to store it in the fridge for up to two years, if you have room. Otherwise, room temperature works just fine for six months. Keep in mind that the sauce may darken a bit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s gone bad.
Whether used as a creamy dip or a topping for a baked potato, sour cream is a versatile condiment. After opening a container of sour cream, store it in the refrigerator and use it up within one to three weeks.
This condiment—made from fermented soybeans and wheat—is a popular marinade ingredient that adds a delicious umami flavor. When unopened, soy sauce can be kept in your pantry indefinitely. An open bottle of soy sauce can be stored for three years in the refrigerator.
Spaghetti is one of our favorite easy weeknight dinners, and with this recipe you can really plan ahead. A jar of store-bought pasta sauce lasts in your pantry for two years. After opening a jar, it should be stored in the refrigerator and used within four days.
Made with fermented soybeans, miso paste can be put to use in so much more than miso soup. It’s also perfect for ramen and in dressings and marinades. Unopened, miso paste will keep in the pantry for up to a year. Once you open it, it will continue to ferment—so for best taste, consume it sooner than later. Eating this essential Japanese ingredient within three months is best, but it may last up to a year in the fridge.
15/19
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What’s the Shelf Life of Tahini?
Unopened: 6 months after the best-by date at room temperature
After opening: 1 year at room temperature, 3 weeks in the fridge
This sesame seed-based condiment is a staple in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. An unopened jar will likely last six months past the best-by date if stored in cool and dry conditions. Once open, tahini can be stored for one year in the pantry or for three weeks in the refrigerator.
After you try it, tahini will quickly become a regularly stocked condiment in your pantry. Branch out with these other condiments to try, like chili crisp, zhoug sauce and harissa.
16/19
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How Long Does Chutney Last?
Unopened: 1 year at room temperature
After opening: 2 months in the fridge
Whether it’s mango, pineapple or another flavor, unopened chutney can stay in your cupboard for up to a year. After the jar has been opened, store the chutney in your fridge for up to two months. Use chutney to top your favorite Indian recipes.
By the way, chutney is different than relish. Chutney is typically thicker than relish, although relish has more of a crunchy bite since the ingredients aren’t cooked down as much.
17/19
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What’s the Shelf Life of Worcestershire Sauce?
Unopened: 1-1/2 to 3 years at room temperature
After opening: 3 years in the fridge
Hard to say, but easy to store. It lasts up to three years unopened in the pantry. Keep an open bottle of Worcestershire sauce for up to three years in the refrigerator.
Unopened: A few months after the best-by date at room temperature
After opening: 3 months in the fridge
Horseradish often comes “prepared”—grated and combined with vinegar and sugar—in a bottle or jar that makes it easily spreadable on your favorite sandwich. It’s different than horseradish sauce, which is prepared horseradish combined with cream, that makes it not so pungent.
Before opening, it should last at room temperature for a few months past the best-by date. Horseradish is better fresher, and once opened, it will start losing some of its bite. Try to finish off the jar within three months, keeping it in the fridge in the meantime.
If you’re not sure when you got a condiment, check to see if there is a “best-by” date on the packet. If not, open it up and see if it smells or looks off. It’s always better to err on the side of caution. Did you know there arefoods you can keep past the expiration date?
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