It Might Be Time To Replace Your Condiments (2024)

It Might Be Time To Replace Your Condiments (1)

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You might wonder about the forgotten fruits, veggies, sauces, and meats you have in the refrigerator right now. Did you actually throw out that wasabi? You’ve had that ketchup in the fridge since 2015. Is that still good? What about that extra BBQ sauce you stored in your pantry? Do you have to get rid of that too (again)?!

Well, since you asked, we’ve made a list of your favorite condiments and used the FoodKeeper food guide to find out exactly how long you can keep your sauces and spices around. The FoodKeeper ‘s guide was created by the Food Marketing Institute, Cornell University’s Department of Food Science and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, so I’d say it’s trustworthy. And now your saucy worries will be but a memory. But, please, throw out that ketchup. That’s definitely gone bad.

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1

Ketchup

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If you’re not dousing your eggs with ketchup (IDK. I don't judge) and it’s still in the pantry, it’s good for one year from the date of purchase. If the ketchup bottle is in the fridge, depending on when you opened the bottle, it should be good for six months.

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2

Mustard

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Surprisingly, mustard goes hand in hand with ketchup, but it outlasts it in terms of shelf life. If it’s in the pantry, mustard is good to use for one to two years after it was bought. If it’s in the refrigerator, that gets cut down to one year since it’s opened.

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3

Mayonnaise

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Although mayo goes with practically everything, you’re gonna have to use it fast because it’s only good for about three to six months if it’s in the pantry. If it’s in the refrigerator? It’s only good for two months after opening. More of an excuse to use it up!

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4

Relish

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This one is actually shocking. According to the FoodKeeper app, relish should be eaten with 30 MONTHS of purchase if it’s in the pantry. If it’s opened and is being refrigerated, it should be used up within nine months. Honestly, is this the cockroach of condiments or what?

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5

Pickles

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Not quite a condiment, but if you’re a pickle-lover, you can count your lucky stars. If you’ve stored your pickle jar is in your pantry, it’ll stay fresh for one year. However, after opening it, you have one-to-three months.

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6

Sauerkraut

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High-acid canned goods like sauerkraut are good to enjoy for 12 to 18 months if unopened and stored properly. But once it’s opened and refrigerated, eat it quickly, because it’s only good for five to seven days. The FoodKeeper app says that theses kinds of canned items will be safe to eat past the “use-by” date as long as there’s no rust or swelling, so keep an eye out!

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7

Spices

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If you’re a snob when it comes to bland food, chances are you have a whole cupboard just for spices. Trust me, my family is Jamaican and Indian, so we stock up on ground spices like pepper, cardamom, garlic powder, turmeric, and nutmeg. These have a shelf life of two-to-three years. As for whole spices like cloves, seeds, and black peppercorns, those will last for three-to-four years.

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8

Barbecue Sauce

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Come on. This is the best sauce to add to ribs, chicken wings, pizza, meatballs. And now I wish we were back in summer again. Anyway. Don’t let your BBQ spoil! Finish it within one year of purchase if it’s in the pantry. If it’s opened, you have four months.

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9

Salt

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Back in the day, people used salt to keep their preserve their food and make it last longer. So what about the salt itself? Well actually, salt will last forever. No, really. According to FoodKeeper, salt is good “indefinitely.”

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10

Chutney

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Um, yum! Chutney pairs so well with so many things. This condiment is good for one year after purchase and stored, but when opened, it’s good for one-to-two months.

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11

Honey

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Honey is good for two years from when you first bought it. PS— apparently raw honey is like a superfood, so get to it!

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12

Worcestershire

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This flavorful sauce has the most mispronounced name, but is used on so many kinds of foods. Another reasons it’s great? The household staple is good for one year.

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13

Hot Sauce

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This little baby can do wonders to a dish. And no, Sriracha isn’t the only great hot sauce out there, I promise. These are generally best in the refrigerator and are best used within six months.

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14

Jams, Jellies, and Preserves

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If you thought these condiments were good forever, you’re kind of right. Kind of. If unopened, these sweet add-ons are good to eat between six-to-18 months of purchase. If you’ve already opened the jar, you can eat it between six-to-12 months.

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16

Olive And/Or Vegetable Oil

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Olive and vegetable oils should be used between six-to-12 months after you bought it at the store. After opening and storing the oil in the pantry, it’s good for three to five months.

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17

Pesto

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This basil and garlicy condiment goes so well with sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, but keep in mind it needs to be eaten within three days if refrigerated after opening. If you had already put the jar in the fridge as soon as you unloaded the groceries from your supermarket trip, good on you! The pesto will be good to eat for six months from the date of purchase.

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18

Vinegar

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If stored properly, vinegar will be good to use for up to two years after your purchase.

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19

Miso

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Love me some miso soup! Refrigerate miso if you want it to last one year.

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20

Coconut Oil

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Everyone is all about that coconut oil as of late. Apparently there’s a lot of benefits of ingesting coconut oil for digestion and immune system. If (or when) you stock up on coconut oil, take note that it’ll last for around three years in the pantry. Putting it in the refrigerator might make it hard to use, so keeping it out might be best.

It Might Be Time To Replace Your Condiments (2024)

FAQs

It Might Be Time To Replace Your Condiments? ›

Yes! Condiments do expire, so it's important to keep an eye on your shelves full of sauces. Any food that's too old can grow bacteria and lose or change its taste over time—even canned food doesn't last forever. The best-case scenario is that your old hot sauce tastes stale instead of spicy.

How long can you keep condiments in the refrigerator? ›

After opening condiments, you can refrigerate them for the following times: ketchup, cocktail or chili sauce 6 months. chutney, 1 to 2 months. horseradish, 3 to 4 months.

What are examples of condiments? ›

Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavour texture: barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, Marmite and sour cream are examples. Alternatively, condiments are sometimes added prior to serving, for example, in a sandwich made with ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise.

What is the oldest condiment in the world? ›

The first condiment was salt. Salt has always been used both as a preservative and to enhance the flavor of food. Vinegar has also been used since ancient times. Its name is probably derived from the French words vin aiger meaning sour wine.

Which condiment never goes bad? ›

Much like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce has a relatively high salt and acid content, which act as preservatives, explains Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That's just one reason you can keep an unopened bottle of Worcestershire sauce for five years.

Which condiments should not be refrigerated? ›

Common condiments that don't require refrigeration include soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, honey and hot sauce. Feingold says vinegars and olive oil (stored in a cool, dark place) are pantry-bound; coconut oil is actually best kept out of the fridge since it hardens below room temperature.

What is the #1 condiment? ›

That's right—mayonnaise! According to sales figures, the creamy sandwich spread regularly accounts for more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Many consider mayo to be the top condiment in the U.S. What's the top condiment worldwide?

What are the top 3 condiments? ›

Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are some classic staples. If you were to guess ketchup as America's top pick, you might have been right a couple of years ago.

What is America's least favorite condiment? ›

According to the results of a survey conducted in June 2021, the most hated condiment by consumers in the United States is hot sauce, with approximately 24 percent of respondents indicating that they hate hot sauce. In second place was relish, which was hated by around 21 percent of respondents.

What is the rarest condiment? ›

Buckle up, here's what we found!
  • Acetaia Di Giorgio - Oracolo Gold cap Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Goldsal - The world's most luxurious salt.
  • The True Honey Company - Rare Harvest Manuka Honey.
  • Wietsaus - Weed Flavoured Mayo.
  • Dave's Gourmet - White Truffle Marinara Sauce.
  • Swamp Dragon - Private Reserve Rum Dragon.
Jul 18, 2021

What did people use before ketchup? ›

Instead, the precursor to our ketchup was a fermented fish sauce from southern China. As far back as 300 B.C., texts began documenting the use of fermented pastes made from fish entrails, meat byproducts and soybeans.

What were Jesus' commandments? ›

Thou knowest the commandments: Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. We expect Jesus to recite the entire Decalogue.

What are God's commandments? ›

Religious traditions
LXXPCommandment (KJV)
11Thou shalt have no other gods before me
22Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
33Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
14 more rows

What are the 10 rules of Christianity? ›

The Ten Commandments
  • I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
  • You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
  • Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.
  • Honor your father and your mother.
  • You shall not kill.
  • You shall not commit adultery.
  • You shall not steal.

How long is mayo good after opening the refrigerator? ›

Mayonnaise – Once the jar has been opened, mayo shouldn't be kept for more than two months. Be extra careful with mayo-based foods, such as chicken salad or potato salad. They're only safe to eat for 3 to 4 days after they're prepared.

Does ketchup mustard and mayonnaise need to be refrigerated? ›

The guidelines at FoodSafety.gov state that shelf-stable products like mustard, mayo, barbecue sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salsa will benefit from being stored in the fridge. "Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time."

How long does mustard last in the fridge? ›

If it's in the pantry, mustard is good to use for one to two years after it was bought. If it's in the refrigerator, that gets cut down to one year since it's opened.

How long does sweet and sour sauce last in the fridge? ›

For the freshest tasting sauce, we recommend using the sauces within one month of opening.

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