February 10, 2025, 10:12 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Various sauces are indispensable when cooking. However, you usually only need a little, so the rest goes back into the fridge or pantry. But how long does food keep like this?
After shopping, you quickly put food in the fridge because you don’t know exactly where it actually belongs. This is particularly the case with seasoning sauces. In many cases, however, they contain preservatives such as sugar or vinegar. In this article, myHOMEBOOK explains where you should store condiments and how long they should be kept.
1. Salad Dressing
In general, you should always stick to the best-before date. However, this is only a guideline. In general, unopened salad dressings will keep for between six and twelve months. It is important to store it in a cool, dry, and dark place. The pantry, fridge, or cellar are suitable for this.
If you open an oil- and vinegar-based salad dressing, it will keep in the fridge for up to three months. Salad dressings based on egg, yogurt, or cheese do not last quite as long. They should be used within the next two months.
Homemade yogurt, cream, or egg-based dressings will keep for a maximum of two to three days in the fridge. If you make vinegar or oil dressings, they will keep for about a week in the fridge.
2. Mayonnaise
Sealed ready-made sauces can also be stored at room temperature. Unopened mayonnaise will keep for about three to four months. However, once opened, it is better to refrigerate it since it is made from raw eggs. You should pay attention to the best-before date, as the shelf life of mayo varies once it has been opened. As a rule, mayo will keep in the fridge for between one and two months.
If you notice a different smell, taste, or color, it is advisable to dispose of the mayonnaise. However, you should be more careful with homemade mayo. According to the consumer advice center, you should use it up within a day.
3. Mustard
Similar to mayonnaise, mustard can initially be stored at room temperature, e.g., in the kitchen cupboard. Once opened, however, the ready-made sauce should also be placed in the fridge. The low temperatures help to keep the sauce fresh for a longer period and also maintain its spiciness. It is important to always store mustard in a dark place to preserve its color.
Traditionally, mustard is made with both vinegar and sugar – two ingredients that benefit the shelf life. Unopened mustard can, therefore, usually be stored for six months. If you open the ready-made sauce, you should note the best-before date. Once opened, mustard remains edible for around six months. Despite these recommendations and guidelines, you should always trust your own senses: If mustard smells, tastes, or looks unusual, it is best to dispose of it.
4. Worcestershire Sauce
The ready-made sauce with the unpronounceable name: Worcestershire sauce. Like mustard, it contains vinegar, a natural preservative. Salt is also mixed in, which is why the sauce has a particularly long shelf life. Unopened, Worcestershire sauce can be kept for up to three years – usually even longer. It is best stored in a cool, dry, and dark place, for example, in the pantry or cellar.
Once opened, the seasoning sauce can be kept in the kitchen cupboard for between six and twelve months. In the fridge, its shelf life is even further extended.
5. Ketchup
Ketchup can be kept unopened for over a year. This is due to the ingredients and the production of the ready-made sauce. The high vinegar, sugar, and salt content in ketchup inhibits the growth of bacteria. It can, therefore, be stored both in the kitchen cupboard and in the fridge. This storage recommendation applies even after the ketchup has been opened. Nevertheless, the fridge is recommended, as the cool temperatures mean that ketchup will keep for between six and twelve months after opening.
If there is a lot of liquid or if ketchup smells and tastes sour, it is better to dispose of it.
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6. Soy Sauce
Some people find soy sauce too salty. Whether you like the taste or not, you’re on the right track. In fact, soy sauce has a high salt content. The salt inhibits the growth of bacteria. In addition, the sauce is fermented and has a low pH value, which is why it is slightly acidic. The fermentation process and acidity contribute to the preservation of the sauce, allowing it to remain unopened for approximately three years. Like other ready-made sauces, soy sauce should be stored in a dry, dark, and cool place.
Once opened, it will remain edible in the fridge for between one and two years. At room temperature, it will keep for about six months.