Shelf Life Tips
- How long does cream of onion soup last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep opened cream of onion soup refrigerated and tightly covered.
-
To maximize the shelf life of canned or packaged cream of onion soup after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container.
-
How long does opened cream of onion soup last in the refrigerator? Cream of onion soup that has been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 3 to 4 days.
-
Is cream of onion soup safe to use after the "expiration" date on the package? Yes, provided it has been stored properly, the package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially packaged cream of onion soup will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the cream of onion soup will remain at peak quality.
-
To further extend the shelf life of opened cream of onion soup, freeze it: to freeze cream of onion soup, place inside covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
-
How long does cream of onion soup last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 6 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
-
The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cream of onion soup that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
-
How long does cream of onion soup last after being frozen and thawed? Cream of onion soup that has been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before using; cream of onion soup that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be used immediately.
-
How can you tell if opened cream of onion soup is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the cream of onion soup: if the cream of onion soup develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
-
Discard all cream of onion soup from cans or packages that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.
About Our Authors
Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
