Shelf Life Tips
- How long does sweet and sour sauce last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of opened sweet and sour sauce, refrigerate and keep tightly covered at all times.
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How long does opened sweet and sour sauce last in the refrigerator? Sweet and sour sauce that has been continuously refrigerated will generally stay at best quality for about 1 year.
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Is opened sweet and sour sauce safe to use after the expiration date? Yes, provided it has been stored properly, the bottle is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially bottled sweet and sour sauce 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 sweet and sour sauce will remain at peak quality.
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The storage time shown for opened sweet and sour sauce is for best quality only - after that, the sweet and sour sauce's texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to consume if it has been kept continuously refrigerated, the bottle is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if opened sweet and sour sauce is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the sweet and sour sauce: if the sweet and sour sauce develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
