How Long Does Hot Sauce Last? Does it Go Bad?

Finding an old open pack of hot sauce is common as we buy them in bulk.

But the actual stress comes out when it’s around its best-by date as you get confused about whether it is safe or do hot sauce go bad.

That is because eating bad sauce can be harmful and can offer give a bad aftertaste.

There is no doubt that hot sauce can lose its taste and can go bad if you keep storing it for a more extended period.

The hot sauce comes in different variations and is not only used as dips but also while cooking.

What is Hot Sauce?

This includes a lot of Ingredients such as chili peppers, vinegar, and salt.

The sauce develops a funky flavor after fermentation.

The hot and spicy taste is all because of the chemical contained in it called capsaicin.

There might not be a spicy recipe without hot sauce, as it is used in all recipes, such as burgers, burritos, eggs, marinades, tacos, and many more.

This sauce does not contain fat and is low in terms of calories.

It is also a rich source of vitamin C and provides you with 4% of its daily.

This is a water-soluble vitamin that helps in improving the immune system.

It can also prevent inflammation against free radicals as this acts as an antioxidant and minimizes all harmful chemicals.

How Long Does Hot Sauce Last? Does Hot Sauce Go Bad?

All hot sauces have a different shelf life because of the ingredients used in them.

Many people throw their sauces out when they are around the best-by date.

But that is incorrect, as sometimes your sauce is perfectly fine even after that date.

These are just estimations that this might be able to serve you that long.

But the actual shelf life of the hot sauce depends upon the storage and its variation.

That means if you have a store-bought vinegar hot sauce, it can serve you for two years.

But it would be best to keep the jar in the refrigerator once you open it.

If you buy different varieties of sauces and do not use them frequently, you should try not to open them until they are used.

That is because the hot sauce can be used for years, even beyond the best-by date.

However, once it’s opened, then it will not be used for more than six months if kept at room temperature.

You can extend the life of an opened pack of hot sauce by putting it in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.

How to Tell if Hot Sauce Has Gone Bad?

• Discoloration.

When you keep storing the sauce for a long, then there are many changes that take place.

Thus to find out whether the sauce is good, you can look for those changes.

One significant change that you can notice is discoloration.

This is a natural process that happens if you prolong the sauce storage.

Your sauce will turn brown or become darker if you have too much heat or light exposure.

If there is a discoloration, then avoid having the sauce.

• Mold Growth.

Another change is the growth of mold on the surface of the sauce.

There will be a spot or cluster formed on the surface that is different from the actual color of the sauce.

If you can see that, then your sauce is no better, and you should discard it immediately.

• Awful Odor.

One can feel an unpleasant smell when the sauce becomes bad.

When you buy the sauce then, the smell is fresh, but because of storage it absorbs the smell of other strong food products.

Therefore, if you feel that the sauce has become stinky, you should discard the jar so that it does not affect the other remaining condiments in the fridge.

How to Store Hot Sauce?

• Store in a Cool and Dark Place.

When anyone recently bought bottles of hot sauce, then one should keep them in a cool and dark place.

Direct sunlight on the bottle might break down the components, and it will extract water.

If you excessively expose the sauce to heat, it will separate its compounds which can make them go bad in no time.

Thus storage should be gone in a cool and dry place.

• Seal the Bottle.

If air enters your sauce, it will increase the pace of oxidation.

That will make your sauce go bad faster than before thus need to seal the bottle correctly.

You can convert it to an airtight container or seal the bottle’s original jar to save it from other elements.

• Dried Crust.

If you can see that the cap and the upper part of the bottle are infested with some webs or clusters, then your sauce is exposed to excess moisture.

There are bacteria that are making your sauce bad, so you must not consume this as it can be harmful.

Conclusion

When you are cooking and find an old pack of sauce then, do not use it instantly because if the sauce has turned bad, your entire recipe will be gone.

Therefore, instead of ruining your recipe, you should check if the sauce is still good to eat.

One can get stomach illnesses and infections by eating bad sauce, so be cautious while having it.

Homemade sauces will not serve you for the above-provided period because they do not have any added preservatives, so they go bad earlier than store-bought sauces.