How long is spaghetti sauce good in the fridge? Spaghetti sauce has become a kitchen staple in the United States. You can use it with so many dishes and in many different ways.
It also requires a lot of effort to make a jar of spaghetti sauce. You have to add too many ingredients such as fresh tomatoes, red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, and even meat in the case of spaghetti meat sauce. Unless you have an entire family to feed, you are not going to consume the entire jar in one go.
What do you do with the rest of the sauce which may be three meals worth? There are many ways to preserve the remaining sauce in the fridge.
How long Spaghetti Sauce is Good for?
Unopened spaghetti sauce has a very long shelf life just like chicken soup. Unopened jars of tomato sauce bought from a store can last for a year at room temperature.
It is also true for homemade spaghetti or tomato sauce. It will be completely safe to eat it after even a couple of years provided you store it in an airtight container such as a glass jar.
However, sauces with heavy cream content have smaller life. For example, Alfredo sauce will be edible for only eight months. Tomato sauces last longer than cream sauces because tomatoes have acids that act as excellent preservatives. Cream sauces expire earlier because they don’t have such an advantage.
How long is Open Spaghetti Sauce Good in the Fridge?
Spaghetti sauce starts to decline in quality and flavor as soon as you open the jar. Once opened, you must store it in the fridge immediately. It will survive for only a week even in the fridge. Opened cream and tomato based sauces last for up to 7 and 10 days respectively in the fridge.
However, the ingredients of spaghetti sauce also determine how long it will last in the fridge. In general, it will be good to eat within 5 to 10 days of opening the jar.
Unopened homemade sauce lasts as long as unopened store bought sauce. But – how long do homemade sauces last in the fridge? They will only remain edible for 3-5 days even if you store them in the fridge.
Sauces made in stores have extra preservatives which extend their life. Homemade sauces do not have this luxury and have shorter life compared to store made sauces.
Cream sauces also lack the acidity of tomato sauces and therefore, expire considerably earlier as well.
How to Tell if Pasta Sauce is Bad?
The only way to tell if pasta or spaghetti sauce is bad is the development of mold. It is also the only visible sign to learn that the sauce has gone bad. Spaghetti sauce does not small at all even if it is bad unless it consists of dairy such as Alfredo sauce.
You can even find it hard to spot mold on the sauce. Tomato sauce can vary in texture especially if it also contains meat. Soups like marinara have seasonings and herbs that resemble mold as well. If you see any hint of mold, throw it away immediately.
How Long Does Pasta Sauce Last in the Freezer?
While opened spaghetti sauce lasts for up to 10 days in a fridge, it can last for months in a freezer. All you need to do is to store it in a freezer safe plastic container. Never use a glass jar as sauces expand when frozen and therefore, they can explode inside the freezer.
You can eat frozen spaghetti or pasta sauce even after 6 months. However, this technique is only applicable to tomato or meat soup. You cannot store soups with cheese or cream in the freezer at all.
Always Label the Open Store Bought Sauce
The expiry date written on the jar of store bought sauce is applicable for sealed jars or its shelf life at room temperature. It also means the soup will maintain its quality up to that particular date. The expiry date no longer applies as soon as you open the jar.
Always label the jar with the date on which you open it. It will help you to find out how long it has been in the fridge. It is also a better measurement of whether or not it is safe to eat after a few days. However, you should never consume the sauce if it has an unpleasant odor.
How Do I Reheat Pasta Sauce?
One of the best methods to reheat sauce is to use a pan. The reheated sauce will not only feel fresh but the heat will also kill harmful bacteria from mild spoilage.
Simply reheat the sauce in a pan on low heat if it has been in a fridge. Store bought sauces are thicker than homemade sauces and may take longer to heat.
When it comes to frozen sauce, it is better to thaw it before reheating it. Similarly, do not reheat all the frozen or refrigerated sauce because it will decrease its life. Only heat the amount of sauce you want to eat. Bacteria can grow more quickly if you frequently heat, cool, and reheat the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a jar of spaghetti sauce good in the refrigerator?
An opened jar of store bought spaghetti sauce will last for 7-10 days in the fridge. Homemade spaghetti sauce, on the other hand, will last for 3-5 days only.
Can you eat pasta sauce after 7 days?
You can store unopened pasta sauce for up to a year and it will still be edible. However, you should eat opened pasta sauce within 5 to 7 days at most.
Does spaghetti sauce go bad?
There is no visible indication that spaghetti sauce has gone bad other than mold development. Even mold is difficult to spot for most people. Therefore, you should cook the sauce if it has been in the fridge for more than 5 days. However, simply throw away the sauce if you see any hint of mold or if it has been in the fridge for more than 10 days.
Final Thoughts
Spaghetti sauce is a delicious food and can be used in many different dishes. However, it goes bad pretty quickly compared to other soups once opened. You should eat open store bought and homemade spaghetti soups within 7 to 10 and 5 days respectively. Anything above that can be harmful to your health.