Even the most meticulous pantry hawks and most meticulous fridge cleaners among us probably have a bottle of BBQ sauce that’s been sitting around longer than we care to admit. Along with dry goods like flour and sugar and other relatively long-lasting pantry staples like peanut butter and mustard BBQ sauce is one of those condiments that never seems to go bad. Because most store-bought versions contain preservatives the tangy sweet sauce typically doesn’t develop telltale signs of rot (like mold) anytime soon but to be sure even this seemingly indestructible product has its limits.
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DEBUNK THE MYTH ABOUT CANNED GOODS' EXPIRY DATE
If you can’t remember how long that bottle has been sitting in your fridge or pantry (was it since last summer? Two years ago…?) then it’s time to toss it. Generally speaking once opened and properly refrigerated BBQ sauce has a fairly long shelf life—about four months—at which point you should toss it. However as with most foods regardless of their overall shelf life you should keep an eye out for signs of spoilage like an odd odor texture or change in appearance. On the other hand if you store it unopened in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight (like your pantry) BBQ sauce can last up to a year.
While there are a variety of BBQ sauces available across the country and in grocery stores most tomato-based versions are made with the same relatively short list of basic ingredients: sugar hot peppers vinegar spices maybe ketchup and sometimes preservatives like sodium benzoate which help extend shelf life. However with all of these mostly natural ingredients comes the potential for spoilage which is why BBQ sauce doesn’t last forever.
Generally speaking the signs of spoilage to look for are the same as with any other seasoning: Changes in color (very old BBQ sauce will take on a darker hue) changes in texture such as runny clumpy or separating odd odors and of course any visible mold are out of the question. You never want to risk eating a seasoning with any of these signs as consuming expired food comes with a host of undesirable side effects—and BBQ sauce is no exception. Pro tip: If you know you won’t be using your BBQ sauce anytime soon you can freeze it to preserve its flavor and integrity for much longer (up to three months). Of course for that maximum sweet tangy flavor that makes everything from BBQ ribs to burgers sing fresh is always best for the brightest biggest flavor.
