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How To Tell If Molasses Is Bad

How To Tell If Molasses Is Bad

How To Tell If Molasses Is Bad?

To tell if molasses has gone bad, check for signs of spoilage such as mold, an off odor, or a change in color. The molasses should also be thick and not watery. If it has been stored for a long time, it may become crystallized, this is normal and the molasses can be remixed or heated to return it to its liquid state. Additionally, if there is any off taste or smell, it is best to discard it.

A best-by date is not the same thing as an expiration date, and molasses can and does stay fresh for much longer than the date stamped on its container, particularly if it has been kept unsealed, sealed correctly, and stored correctly. Molasses Lasts For Keep in mind that molasses, as well as many other baking products, typically has a best before date, rather than a use-by or expiration date.

Open bottles of molasses, however, should last for a year or longer, provided they are stored correctly and kept sealed tight after each use. Molasses stored in sealed, unopened bottles will last for 10 years in a pantry, and possibly even longer when stored in a refrigerator. An unopened molasses bottle, stored cool, dark, should last for at least a year, up to two years. In case the label does not have a date, you can confidently assume a sealed, unopened can of molasses will be good for at least 2 years in your pantry, and likely longer if kept refrigerated.

Watch this video to learn about the Bad quality of Molasses

In the case of refrigeration, then sealed bottles of molasses may still be usable, though they are more than five years past their best-by date. The general rule of thumb is if your Molasses bottle is two years older than its mentioned best by date, and is sealed, then it is safe to consume. It is good practice to put your purchased date and open date on the packaging of your molasses, this way you will know for sure how old the bottle is.

Storage PlaceShelf Life
Fridge6 months
Freezer2 years
Pantry10 years
Shelf life of unopened bottle of molasses in different storage places.

Because molasses flavors deteriorate over time, both in opened jars and in unopened ones, you will want to note the best-by date stamped on your jar to get an approximate freshness window. Although, you should always keep in mind that a dated molasses bottle is not going to taste quite as good as a fresh bottle.

When it comes to taste, have a sip of your molasses as soon as you open the bottle for the first time. If the appearance and aroma are okay, but you are still unsure whether or not your molasses is ready for consumption, you may want to try tasting a little spoonful. If you are still not sure exactly what molasses is supposed to smell and taste like, well, you can always pick up a fresh bottle and take a big sniff and taste.

Overall, any change in appearance, smell, and taste is a sure sign that spoiled molasses has gone bad, and you will want to throw it out. While there are no documented cases of molasses poisoning, and you likely will not be sick from spoiled molasses, it is best to throw it out if you are unsure, just to be safe.

If molasses does not show any signs of spoilage, it can also last for four years when stored correctly. Molasses does not show any signs of being aged, once it is completely spoiled, you will see all signs are blatantly obvious. It will never crystallize, if it does, that is an obvious sign your molasses bottle is ready for disposal, as you are inviting health risks if consumed.

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If you decide to keep Molasses in your fridge, chances are that you need to heat it up before using it. If you are storing molasses in the fridge, you can soften it up by heating bottles and cans in a hot bath. If you need to use up that stored molasses from your refrigerator, you can simply take it out of the refrigerator and allow to sit for a couple hours, or you can warm up the entire jar or bottle in a pan of warm water. If it is blackstrap molasses, you do not want to keep it refrigerated, because it will make it more viscous, which makes it harder to pour.

The quality of a product usually deteriorates with time, like most things, but a mulasses that is five years old may be as good as one that is a year old, as long as it is stored correctly, taking into consideration factors that contribute to spoilage. We do not recommend using a bottle that old, but just using the 10-year-old bottle as an example of how long molasses will last, and how difficult it is to get your molasses to spoil. To make sure that your molasses lasts as long as possible, it is important that you store it correctly and understand the signs of when your molasses has gone bad. Once your molasses has been opened, you are advised to keep it about 6 months in order to extract the best quality from it.

As mentioned earlier, molasses can last well beyond its best-by date if stored properly, and keeping it in a freezer will give it a similar shelf-life as keeping it at room temperature. While it may be good for longer than the best by date, it is always safer to throw it out if you notice any signs of mold, changes in color, or odor. This is a tough question, since pure molasses technically can last years on end without going bad, provided that it is stored in the right conditions.

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Molasses can be stored anywhere between 2 and 10 years, so the best thing to do is go with the labels on the package, and also with an eye-smell-taste test.

You will get an idea of what a fresh molasses tastes like, and will have a reference point against which you can gauge how well it tastes a few months down the road, to know whether or not it is ready for consumption.

To put it another way, molasses that has been opened six months, nine months, or even a year-and-a-half should be safe for use. Some brands say no matter when you open your molasses, you should consume it by its stated date, while others recommend using within six months of opening your bottle. To prevent your molasses from becoming a science experiment, store it in the original container, and clean off the bottle mouth before tightly closing the can after every use.

Can you eat expired molasses?

A jar of molasses shows the best-by or sell-by date generally only indicated for about two years. On the other hand, molasses is safe to consume long after the expiration date on the label. If there is no date, you can usually eat it for at least two years after purchasing it.

Does molasses go bad after opening?

Molasses mold might appear as a discolored patch. Throw the entire jar away if you notice even a single spot. Additionally, molasses can degrade in less evident ways. You should get a fresh bottle if it smells bad. Molasses may be kept unopened for a year at room temperature. For optimal quality, keep items after opening for six months outside the fridge.

Does molasses need to be refrigerated after opening?

Molasses should be kept in a storage or kitchen cabinet that is cold and dry. Once you’ve opened it, be careful to keep it firmly closed while not in use. Molasses can be stored in the refrigerator, both opened and unopened, although it’s not necessary.

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