Shelf Life Tips
- How long does French salad dressing last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of opened French salad dressing, keep it refrigerated and tightly covered.
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How long does opened French salad dressing last in the refrigerator? French salad dressing that has been continuously refrigerated will generally stay at best quality for about 6 to 9 months.
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Is opened French salad dressing 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 French salad dressing 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 French salad dressing will remain at peak quality.
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The storage time shown for opened French salad dressing is for best quality only - after that, the salad dressing'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 package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if opened French salad dressing is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the French salad dressing: if the salad dressing 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
