Condiments

If you prefer your coffee white, or you like to keep a coffee creamer or whitener on hand for your guests, basic knowledge of these products comes quite handy. Mainly because there’s quite a lot of products available in this category, so you’re not limited to milk, cream, or half and half to your coffee for a taste boost. Plus unless you buy a new creamer only once you’re almost finished with the current one, sooner or later you will find yourself with a package that’s near or past its date. And that’s when you start to think whether or not a coffee creamer can go bad.

And because there’s a multitude of creamers and whiteners available, it’s easy to get confused. In this article, I try to make things as easy and straightforward as possible. After reading it, you should be able to easily deal with all sorts of whiteners without constantly checking their labels or getting back to this article each time.

To get that done, let’s first divide all creamers and whiteners into 4 categories. These are:

• Powdered coffee creamers/whiteners. Plain and simple, these are all the products sold in powdered form, no matter if they are dairy or non-dairy based.
• Mini sealed cups. These are the single-serving little creamers often available in restaurants, or which you buy while traveling.
• Dairy-based creamers. These include regular dairy products like milk or cream, but also flavored stuff based on these products.
• Non-dairy based creamers. That’s basically everything else that’s not dairy-based, plus milk alternatives such as almond or coconut milk.

All of the products in each category are quite similar in handling. That’s why we’re going to talk about specific groups. Let’s get going.

Powdered Coffee Creamers

This category is as simple as it gets. When it comes to storage, the package can sit at room temperature. Just make sure it’s away from moisture ([CM]), and that’s about it. Once you first open the packaging, make sure its always sealed tightly. If the original package isn’t easily resealable, consider transferring the powder into an airtight container or freezer bag for additional protection.

How long does powdered coffee creamer last, you ask? The best-by date on the label is obviously only a rough estimate, and more often than not you can continue using the powder past its date. It might not be the best in terms of flavor, but if it’s not wet nor there are any wet spots or clumps, it should be perfectly safe to use. If your coffee with the powder added doesn’t taste as good as it used to, discard it.

If you need a coffee whitener only for time to time, or you don’t use that much, the powdered version is probably the best option for you. It has a shelf life of a year or two and doesn’t go bad easily. Perfect if you need it only for your guests.

Mini Sealed Cups

These tiny cups work great if you’re traveling and don’t have access to a fridge. They don’t require refrigeration, and you use them one at a time, so you never have to worry about storing any leftovers.

When it comes to shelf life, they usually last about 6 months, but they should stay just fine for even longer. I, for one, wouldn’t hesitate to use one that’s over a month past its date. The creamer is basically canned in the tiny cup, so it’s safe for consumption for a long time ([MF]). However, if you prefer to keep things safe when it comes to food, feel free to discard the expired cups.

When it comes to checking if the creamer has gone off, check the smell and taste of the creamer. If you find either of these off, discard the cup. Otherwise, brew yourself a cup and add the creamer, chances are it will be just fine.

Dairy-based Coffee Creamers

When it comes to dairy products like milk, half and half, or cream, I’m pretty sure you know how to go about them. Flavored dairy products are treated pretty much the same way. But just to make sure we’re on the same page, let’s go through the basic guidelines.

When it comes to storage, unless it’s pasteurized milk or the label specifically says it doesn’t require refrigeration, keep it in the fridge. You already do that for most dairy products either way.

For shelf life, in most cases (except milk) it’s usually quite short, like up to a few weeks. Generally, you should observe the best-before date on the label. Of course, if you do a decent job of storing the product, you can get away with keeping the unopened product for a few days past its date, but that’s about it. Once you open the container, check the label for details on how long does it last opened, because that differs a bit from producer to producer. Usually, it’s between 4 to 7 days, but as I said, consult with the label.

How to tell if dairy creamer is bad, you ask? The product turning sour is a sure sign it’s past its prime. Noticeable changes in texture and other changes in the smell also make it pretty clear the dairy-based creamer is spoiled. Last but not least, if the creamer seems to be just fine when it comes to looks and smell, give it a taste, and decide based on that if you’re going to use it or not. Of course, since most dairy products go bad fairly quickly, if you already keep the creamer in the fridge for longer than 2 to 3 days past the recommended period, discard it. Yes, even if it seems to be okay. In this case it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Non-dairy Coffee Creamers and Whiteners

While there’s a ton of products in this category, the rules are quite similar for all of them.

First, let’s discuss storage. Some of these creamers require refrigeration at all times, while others only upon opening. So the best way to go about this is to simply store the bottle or tetra-pack the way it was stored in the supermarket. If you got home and forgot if it was refrigerated or not, check the label. If it doesn’t specifically mention how to store an unopened container, toss it into the fridge to keep things safe. Once you open the bottle or carton, refrigerate it. That’s true for pretty much all coffee creamers, and I’d be concerned if mine didn’t say I need to keep it in the fridge after opening.

When it comes to how long does liquid non-dairy creamers last, it pretty much depends on the product. Because of that, look for the best-by date on the label. Usually, they last a couple of months unopened, and around a week to two weeks after opening ([CM]), but again, check with the label of your product.

If you’re checking if the whitener is still okay to use, check its appearance (color, texture) after pouring some in a glass, give it a good sniff, and finally, if everything seems fine, taste a tiny bit. Performing such a check will ensure you don’t ever use a bad or old whitener.

Last but not least, if the container is opened for a noticeably longer period than the label suggests, discard the product. There’s no point in risking food poisoning, plus that creamer likely won’t be much good anyway.

In a Nutshell

• Keep powdered creamers away from moisture, and they will be fine for a long time, even up to a couple of months past the date on the label.
• Mini sealed cups last around 6 months, and often are just fine even a couple of weeks past their date. They don’t require refrigeration, even if it’s a little half-and-half.
• Dairy-based coffee creamers should be treated like dairy, both when it comes to storage and going bad. If it’s turned sour, it’s bad. As usual with dairy products, these creamers don’t last long after opening.
• Non-dairy whiteners last quite a long time unopened and often don’t require refrigeration. But once you open the carton, most of them, like dairy, need to be kept in the fridge and doesn’t last longer than a week or two.

References

• [CM] Coffee mate: FAQs
• [MF] Mental Floss: Do Little Half and Half Creamers Ever Go Bad?

If a homemade salad is part and parcel of your dinners, that’s great. And you definitely know that the dressing is in many cases what makes that salad great. Because of that, we often buy multiple bottles of different brands, test out various dry mixes, and try different recipes we find online. All of that to find the perfect dressing for your favorite salad or a few ones to choose from depending on your mood or the ingredients of the salad.

And if you’re still in the trenches, searching for the holy grail, you probably have a few half-open bottles, and possibly a host of dry mixes stashed. Sooner or later, you start wondering: can salad dressing go bad?

Or perhaps you’re not that into salads, and it takes you a few months to clear a single bottle of ranch or Italian dressing. Nothing wrong with that. But now you’re wondering how to tell if that dressing that’s sitting in your fridge for quite some time is bad or not.

Either way, this article is all about salad dressings. I divided it into three sections, one for each type: bottled, dry mix, and homemade. Each one is a different beast entirely, so it makes perfect sense to make that division. If you’re looking to learn a bit about dressings, read on.

Store-bought Bottled Dressings

These are probably the most popular ones out there, for the same reasons pesto, ketchup, or mayonnaise are. They are super-convenient, especially if you’re whipping up a salad in a hurry. Please note that the guidelines I provide are pretty generic, as there are dozens of dressing styles available. Plus various producers add different amounts of preservatives to their product. So listing specifics for everything available is neither possible nor makes sense. I believe that a few basic rules go a long way here.

Can Bottled Salad Dressings Go Bad? How To Tell If One Is Bad?

Sure they can. While they’re often quite high in preservatives, they still spoil if you store them long enough or in adverse conditions. Signs of spoilage are pretty typical: mold, off or rancid smell, noticeable change of texture or taste. If either one is present, throw out the bottle.

One exception here: oil-based dressings, like Italian, separate naturally, so some separation is expected and shouldn’t concern you. Just shake the bottle before using to make it more even, and you’re good to go. If it’s not an oil-based dressing and it separates, throw it out for quality reasons.

How Long Does Bottle Salad Dressing Last? How To Store It?

Bottled salad dressings come in two different types. Most of them are sold unrefrigerated, but every now and then you can find one that’s in the refrigerated section in the supermarket. And different rules apply to both.

When it comes to dressings sold refrigerated, these you should always keep in the fridge. Their shelf life isn’t that long, usually up to a few weeks. They come with a use-by date that’s a pretty good indicator of how long they retain good quality. Of course, you often can use such a dressing for a few days or even a week past that date, depending on when you open it. As usual, the longer it’s opened, the worse the quality and bigger chance it spoils.

Bottled dressings sold unrefrigerated can be stored at room temperature until you open them. That means a pantry or a cabinet in the kitchen works perfectly. Just make sure the bottle is not near any heat sources or in direct sunlight. Once you open the bottle, make sure it sits in the fridge when not in use.

When it comes to shelf life, it’s usually a minimum of a few months. Again, there’s a best-by date on the label to help with that. And as you might imagine, the dressing often lasts even for a month past that date if it stays unopened.

After opening, bottled dressings usually last between 3 to 6 months, but make sure to check the label of yours, as those periods vary depending on brands and styles. If you expect to have it opened for longer than a few weeks, it might be a good idea to write the date of opening on the label. And if it already sits for quite some time, check it for signs of spoilage before using.

Dry Mix Salad Dressings

Dry mixes are a great choice if you need some help with making a salad dressing every now and then. And they are spice mixes for the most part, so you deal with those pretty much the same way you deal with spices. That means you should store the packets at room temperature in a dry place. If you don’t use the whole thing in one go, make sure to seal it as tightly as possible, or even transfer the leftover dust to a resealable bag.

When it comes to shelf life, it’s usually between a year and two years, and you should be able to get away with using the mix with excellent results even after a few months past the date on the label. Worse thing that’s like to happen is that the mixed dressing won’t taste quite as flavorful as it usually does. That’s because some of the spices from the mix have probably lost of their potency.

Generally, as long as moisture doesn’t get to the powder, it should be safe to use. But if it’s already more than a few months past its date, it’s probably better to get rid of it regardless.

Homemade Salad Dressings

Like with bottled dressings, there are far too many recipes and styles available to cover all of them in detail. So instead I came up with a few basic guidelines you can apply to any dressing you prepared for your Caesar (or any other, for that matter) salad.

When it comes to storage, it’s plain and simple: keep the leftover dressing refrigerated and sealed tightly. You can use a plastic bottle, a glass jar, a resealable container, or whatever else gets the job done. The spoilage signs are pretty much the same as for bottled dressings. The only thing to remember is that because you’re not adding any preservatives to your homemade dressings, it spoils quickly. So be even more careful with checking if the mixed ingredients are still fit for use.

Last but not least, let’s talk shelf life, as you’re probably wondering how long does your homemade salad dressing last. Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but I have some tips. If you’re whipping up a dressing using ingredients that last long on their own, the dressing can usually last in alright quality for about a week, and sometimes even longer.

A vinaigrette is a good example, as both olive oil and vinegar last a long time, and additional ingredients such as maple syrup or mustard also keep really well. If, on the other hand, it’s a dairy-based dressing like ranch, it definitely won’t last as long, and 3 to 4 days of good quality is all you can hope for in most cases. Also, many dressing recipes mention how long the mix keeps, so search for that piece of information if you expect leftovers.

In a Nutshell

• to check if your salad dressing isn’t spoiled, make sure it’s not moldy, smells alright, and its consistency and taste haven’t changed; except for oil-based dressings, they tend to separate, and that doesn’t make them unsafe to eat
• for bottled salad dressings, observe the date on the label; if it’s a dressing sold refrigerated, it won’t last much past its date; dressings sold unrefrigerated last unopened up to a month past their date, and usually a few months after opening; check the label of yours for details
• dry mixes last months, as long as water doesn’t get to the powder, they should remain okay to use; worst case scenario the dressing won’t taste that good, in which case you should discard it and use a newer one
• homemade salad dressings should be always refrigerated and usually last between 3 days up to a week, depending on the ingredients; check the recipe for specifics

Tabasco is probably the only brand of hot sauce that’s available pretty much worldwide. But if you’re not a huge fan of hot sauce, going through an entire bottle might take quite some time. And the longer the sauce stays open in storage, the more often you think about its shelf life and whether or not it can go bad.

Same thing if a spare container sits in the pantry for a couple of years already. If it were ketchup, you would have probably discarded it by now. But it’s a hot sauce that’s aged in wooden barrels, so it probably keeps for longer, right?

Even though pretty much everyone knows the brand Tabasco, first-time buyers come up with a bunch of questions, such as whether or not the sauce spoils and how long does it last after opening. And if you’re one of those people, or you would just like to learn a bit more about going bad, shelf life, and storage of Tabasco, this article is for you. And to start things off, we’re going to talk about spoilage of the pepper-derived sauce.

Can Tabasco Sauce Go Bad? How To Tell If It Is Bad?

For almost all food products, the answer to the question of whether or not it can go off is definitely yes. For Tabasco, I think the better answer is: probably. Before you get the bottle, the mashed peppers are aged in barrels with vinegar and salt, both being powerful preservatives ([TA]). So the resulting sauce is not prone to spoilage, and can easily last a lot of time. Even once you open the bottle, not much really changes. Granted, the sauce will darken over time, but that change is harmless, and its quality doesn’t change that much.

With that being said, Tabasco probably can spoil, especially if you leave it unsealed for a long time, or the bottle is leaky. So if its smell or flavor have changed significantly, or you noticed any signs of mold, toss out the rest. Please remember that the chance of that happening is pretty slim. And if the sauce turned dark red or even somewhat brown, that’s okay and expected. The color change is caused by time and light exposure so you might need to a better job of storing the sauce next time around.

So you now know that Tabasco isn’t a perishable sauce. But that doesn’t mean that its flavor stays the same all the time. It gradually changes, and many people don’t find the sauce as good as it used to be after a certain period. Do we know how long is the period exactly?

How Long Does Tabasco Sauce Last?

When it comes to an unopened bottle of Tabasco, the flavor of the sauce changes at a snail’s pace. The container keeps the outside world and pretty much every threat that comes with it at bay, so not much changes inside the bottle. So even though Tabasco comes with a best-by date on the label, you can easily keep it around past that date. For the original red sauce, it’d probably be okay even 5 or 10 years past that date. For the new, flavored sauces that period likely won’t be as long, but an unopened bottle a couple of years past the date should still be both safe and flavorful.

Once you first open the sauce, the flavor change process speeds up a bit. It’s still very slow, and you probably won’t feel much of a difference anytime soon. But at a certain moment, you’ll notice that the taste is somewhat dull and you don’t quite like it. Or at least you don’t love it as much as you usually do. For the original sauce, it might happen three to five years after opening. For the new flavored ones, it’s likely to happen sooner, one or two years after popping the seal. It’s difficult to tell, as everyone is different, and what seems perfectly fine for one will taste not nearly as fresh for another. Nevertheless, more than once I read stories of people who use the same bottle for over 10 years and the sauce it still alright.

In short, all of the periods I’ve given you are very rough estimates. If your Tabasco has passed the date on the label, use your senses to make sure it’s still okay to use. Chances are, it stays alright for years, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure of that, at least every now and then. And if you expect to hold onto that bottle of hot sauce for longer, make sure your storage practices are on point.

How To Store Tabasco Sauce?

You should store Tabasco like you store other sauces, such as Worcestershire or Teriyaki. All an unopened container needs is a dark and cool place. A dark cupboard in the pantry or kitchen is perfect for that, just make sure it’s not near the stove or any other source of heat.

Once you open Tabasco, remember to keep it sealed tightly before putting back into storage. When it comes to where to store this hot sauce after opening, you have two choices. You can keep it where it was before, at room temperature, as it doesn’t require refrigeration to not go off. Or you can transfer the bottle in the fridge and keep it there.

Chilling Tabasco in the fridge will help retain its quality for longer, so that option is often recommended if you expect to keep the sauce around for years. What’s also important is that the flavored sauces benefit from cold temperature more than the original one since they include additional flavoring ingredients.

Long story short, keep unopened Tabasco in the pantry, and the opened one in the fridge if you can. But if space in the refrigerator comes at a premium, put the sauce in a dark cabinet and leave that space for products that require it.

In a Nutshell

• unopened Tabasco lasts years past the date on the label
• once you open the bottle, the taste of the sauce starts to slowly alter; the flavored sauces deteriorate faster than the original red sauce
• keep Tabasco at room temperature, once open you can refrigerate it to retain its quality for longer
• refrigeration is especially helpful for the flavored sauces, the original one doesn’t benefit from low temperatures as much

References

• [TA] Tabasco: Original Red Sauce
• [TAI] TAbasco: International

Are you a fan of sauerkraut? This tangy, healthy side dish is made from pickled cabbage so you know it’s high in essential vitamins and dietary fiber. Sauerkraut is also fermented so it is loaded with probiotics that aid in digestion. Since sauerkraut has been pickled, storing this side dish is as easy as can be! Sauerkraut has a long storage life so you have plenty of time using up a bottle. That being said, sauerkraut doesn’t keep forever.

Can Sauerkraut Go Bad?

Yes, sauerkraut has a limited shelf life. However, it will take a while before this side dish turns bad. The vegetable is preserved in a sugar and vinegar solution. Sugars and vinegar are known to extend the shelf life of any dish, including side dishes like sauerkraut! It helps that sauerkraut is quite stable. The pickling solution inhibits bacterial growth. That means the product won’t spoil easily. The only real way that sauerkraut could go bad is if it’s been stored improperly.

Image used under Creative Commons from dustingrzesik

Signs that Sauerkraut Has Gone Bad

Since sauerkraut is a fermented dish, it has, technically, gone bad. Still, there are times when the product becomes too ripe to consume. One of the first signs that the sauerkraut has gone bad is an off-smelling aroma. If the product emits a strong rotting odor, the sauerkraut has gone bad.

Check if the fermented cabbage has taken on a weird texture or color. If there’s significant texture or discoloration, discard the product. If you see greenish blue specks on top of the pickled vegetable, the product has turned moldy and is no longer safe to eat.

How to Store Sauerkraut?

The best way to store sauerkraut is to keep it in the refrigerator. Refrigeration helps inhibit bacterial growth and minimize the risk of spoilage. Sauerkraut doesn’t keep well in hot, humid environments so you have to keep it in cold storage. By keeping the product in the fridge, you can extend the shelf life of sauerkraut even more.

To store sauerkraut in the fridge, you can use its original packaging. However, if the sauerkraut came in tins instead of glass containers, you’ll have to transfer the product to a glass or plastic container. Cans are not ideal for refrigeration. Just stick the product in the coldest spot in the fridge and you are done!

Image used under Creative Commons from jules

When kept in the refrigerator, sauerkraut will stay fresh for 6 months maybe more when the temperature is stable. It is important to keep the container tightly closed after every use. While you can store the sauerkraut without the pickling solution to extend its shelf life, we do not recommend this. The vegetable may dry out and the shelf life becomes much shorter.

We don’t recommend keeping the product at room temperature either. Although the pickling solution could extend the shelf life of the vegetable, the storage life won’t be as long because of the unstable temperature.

Can You Freeze Sauerkraut?

Just like any food, you can freeze sauerkraut. However, freezing is not necessary at all. For one thing, refrigeration is enough to extend the shelf life of the product. In addition, freezing could alter the texture and flavor of sauerkraut. Frozen and defrosted sauerkraut won’t be as tasty as refrigerated sauerkraut. But if say, you still want to freeze this product, make sure to transfer the sauerkraut in a freezer-safe container.

Summary

Sauerkraut is a versatile side dish that adds a boost of nutrients to everyday meals. It’s a good thing that sauerkraut is so easy to store. Just keep these storage tips in mind the next time you shopped for sauerkraut in bulk!

 

Worcestershire sauce probably isn’t one of the condiments that you use regularly. You likely use it only when you whip up a salad or some deviled eggs, and that’s about it. So even if these dishes are on your menu regularly, it’s not like you use a whole bottle of this English sauce every month. It’s much more likely that once you open the bottle, you store it away for months or even years. And at a certain point, you start to think if this sauce can go bad or not.

Or perhaps you’re new to this sauce, and you’re searching for how to best store it for the long term. You know that some condiments such as vinegar or soy sauce last very long without refrigeration. But there are also ones that fare much better in the fridge, like mustard. So you want to know to which group Worcestershire sauce belongs.

But before we cover the best way of storing this condiment, let’s first talk about whether or not it spoils and how long does it keep quality.

Can Worcestershire Sauce Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

Worcestershire sauce comes with a date on the label, so it must spoil at some point, right? Not necessarily. Let’s take a look at the list of ingredients first. It lists vinegar and molasses as its main ingredients ([LP][WIKI]), both of which can basically last forever. Like pretty much all sauces it also includes salt and sugar, both known natural preservatives. With such a setup, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the sauce lasts years in okay quality.

So what’s the deal with the date on the label? Well, this condiment, like pretty much any other similar one comes with a best-by date on the label. That’s not an expiration date, but a time frame of how long the producer says the product will retain quality. Can it stay good for longer? Absolutely. And in case of some products, like many condiments, they keep well for much more, often months and even years. Worcestershire is one of such products, similarly to soy sauce.

Does it mean the sauce created by chemists Lea and Perrins (who started the most known Worcestershire sauce brand: Lea & Perrins) lasts forever? Not really. As long as the bottle remains unopened, the quality and taste of the sauce won’t change much. So even if you open it after 3 years (usually the shelf life of this English sauce [HFS]) of bottling, you should feel little to no difference between it and a fresh one.

But once you first open the bottle, things change. The liquid has access to fresh air, and that speeds up the degradation process of the sauce. This process goes very slowly, so it will probably take two to four years until you start noticing a slight taste difference. In other words, over time the quality of the sauce changes, and after a couple of years, it might not be good enough for your standards. The speed of the process depends on a couple of factors, such as how and where do you store the bottle and how often do you open it. If you take good care of the Worcestershire, a bottle opened 3 or even 5 years ago should still be perfectly fine to use. If the flavor starts lacking, discard the sauce and buy a fresh bottle.

So to answer the question: Worcestershire sauce doesn’t usually spoil as meat or dairy does, but its flavor slowly degrades after opening, and at a certain point you should discard it for quality purposes. Of course, if you notice anything unusual about the sauce, like an altered smell or taste, get rid of it.

Now that you know how to go about the date on the label, it’s time to talk about storage of the sauce.

How To Store Worcestershire Sauce? Does It Need to be Refrigerated?

Similarly to other condiments, you should keep bottles of Worcestershire sauce in a dry and cool place. A dark cupboard in the pantry or kitchen works best for that. Don’t let it sit in the sunlight, as it might affect the taste of the sauce. That’s pretty much it when it comes to an unopened bottle.

After opening the bottle, the first thing to remember is to keep the container sealed tight when not in use. When it comes to whether you need to refrigerate the sauce or not, the answer is no. The amount of natural preservatives present in the bottle is so high that the sauce is shelf stable and doesn’t require refrigeration after opening.

But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t benefit from staying in the fridge. And like many other condiments, it retains quality a bit better when refrigerated. So if you expect to store the sauce for a prolonged period, and have some spare space in the fridge, keep the Worcestershire in there. If you don’t, don’t sweat it. The sauce won’t go bad if not refrigerated. Worse that can happen it will lose quality a bit faster, and you will need to buy a new bottle a few months sooner.

In a Nutshell

• Worcestershire sauce lasts pretty much indefinitely when the bottle is unopened
• Once you open the bottle, the sauce slowly degrades in quality, in a couple of years it won’t be as good as it is today
• Keep it in a cool place away from sunlight; once opened you can refrigerate it to retain the quality for longer

References

• [LP] Lea & Perrins: The Original Worcestershire Sauce
• [WIKI] Wikipedia: Worcestershire Sauce
• [HFS] Heinz Food Service Canada: Worcestershire Sauce