Shelf Life Tips
- How long does cranberry sauce last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep opened cranberry sauce refrigerated and tightly covered.
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To maximize the shelf life of cranberry sauce after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container.
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How long does opened cranberry sauce last in the refrigerator? Cranberry sauce that has been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 10 to 14 days.
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Is cranberry sauce safe to use after the " expiration date" on the can? Yes, provided it has been stored properly, the can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially packaged cranberry 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 cranberry sauce will remain at peak quality.
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To further extend the shelf life of opened cranberry sauce, freeze it: to freeze cranberry sauce, place inside covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long does cranberry sauce last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 2 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cranberry sauce that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How can you tell if opened cranberry sauce is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the cranberry sauce: if the cranberry 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
