What Happens If You Eat Out-of-Date Sauce?
Bacteria and molds can grow in sauces if kept at room temperature, as these organisms prefer warm, humid conditions (such as inside hot sauce bottles). Sauces that are mostly stored at room temperature are very vulnerable to mold and bacteria growth. To prevent bacterial growth, it is recommended to store sauces in the refrigerator. Although they are not always preserved in a water bath, hot sauces are regularly bottled and the anaerobic conditions in which they are stored favor the growth of Clostridium botulinum.
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A standard bottle of hot sauce has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years and can easily be stored for several months past the expiration date on the label. You can store hot sauce for 9-12 months in the refrigerator and six months in the pantry; however, you’re better off keeping the sauce warm by freezing it. If you’re against refrigeration for any reason (hey, we don’t judge), be sure to store it in a cool, dark place.
What is an expired sauce?
Before diving into the effects of eating expired sauce, it’s important to understand what we mean by “expired sauce.” Most sauces come with a “best before” or “use by” date, which is a recommendation from the manufacturer on when the product is at its best quality. After this date, the sauce may start to degrade in quality, flavor, and texture, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s unsafe to consume.
However, if the sauce has passed its “use by” date or if it has been improperly stored, it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, which can cause food poisoning.
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| Different Sauces | Expiry |
| Mustard sauce | Hot sauce 9-12 months (in refrigerator) |
| Soy sauce | 2 to 3 years and can easily be stored for several months past the expiration date |
| Chilli sauce | If the ketchup contains meat, consume it within 2-3 days (of refrigeration) |
How long will sauce keep in the fridge?
The sauce will keep for 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator at 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit, or three months in the refrigerator at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. If the ketchup is refrigerated, if it’s a commercial sauce rather than a homemade one, it should keep for another three months or so beyond the shelf life. If the ketchup contains meat, consume it within 2-3 days of refrigeration, as meat spoils faster than ketchup. Typically, homemade tomato sauce will keep for three to five days; however, if it does not contain cream or cheese, you can easily freeze it in an airtight 1-liter container.
When stored properly, unopened spaghetti sauce will generally retain its best quality for about 12-18 months, although when stored properly it will usually remain safe to use afterwards. Throw away all spaghetti sauce from leaking, rusty, bulging, or badly damaged cans or packages. Spaghetti sauce that has not been opened and stored properly often retains its optimum quality for 12 to 18 months, after which it is safe to use. An unopened bottle of the highest quality chili sauce will typically last 12 to 18 months if stored properly. Store-bought cocktail sauce will keep unopened for about 1 year in the pantry and up to 2 years after the expiration date when refrigerated or frozen.
Health risks of eating expired sauce
If you consume expired sauce, there is a risk that it may contain harmful bacteria or other pathogens. The most common type of bacteria found in expired sauces is Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a potentially life-threatening illness. Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, and paralysis. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and death.
Other types of bacteria that can be found in expired sauce include Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli, which can cause food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.
Can I eat expired sauce?
While we never recommend consuming anything past its “use by” date without first inspecting it for indications of deterioration, “best by” dates aren’t expiration dates, so there’s a strong possibility your extra bottle of hot sauce is still edible.
Does spaghetti sauce expire if opened?
Pasta sauce can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 10 days after it has been opened, according to experts. What exactly is this? Most shoppers use the “Best By” or expiration date on a food item to determine when to discard it.
How long does hot sauce last once it’s opened?
The super spicy ingredients of hot sauce made it last longer and have a super-long shelf life. Unopened hot sauce can be kept in the pantry for three to four years. An open bottle of hot sauce can be stored in the pantry for six months or in the refrigerator for one to two years where it will remain fresher.
Can you get sick from out-of-date sauce?
Food poisoning, vomiting, and diarrhea can result from consuming expired sauce. Moreover, due to changes in flavor and texture, sauce that has expired might not taste as intended. It’s likely that expired sauce would taste sour and have a distinct odor as well as mold growth. Hence it is advisable to avoid consuming sauce that has expired.