How Long That Opened Jar Of Salsa Will Actually Last In The Fridge

There's a lot you can do with a jar of salsa. A suitable snack when served with chips or the secret ingredient to a Mexican-inspired lasagna, salsa is a great flavor-boosting ingredient to keep on hand. While there are a surplus of ways to use up an entire jar in one sitting, sometimes you're stuck with leftovers. Rather than nurse that last bit of salsa into the foreseeable future, consider its impending expiration. Given that nothing lasts forever, there is a limit as to how long store-bought jars will last in the fridge.

Generally speaking, store-bought salsa — the kind that's sitting on a shelf, not in the refrigerated section — will last longer than homemade versions due to the addition of preservatives and pasteurization processes. Despite the fact that unopened jars can keep up to 1 ½ years in the pantry, once the zesty condiment has been opened that figure reduces drastically. Even when kept in the fridge, an opened jar can only last for about two weeks to a month. While refrigeration is vital in extending the shelf life of salsa, the truth is that the ingredients used and even how the salsa is handled each time it's removed from the fridge can impact its eventual expiration, which is why it's so important to always abide by a few storage rules.

Extending the shelf life of opened salsa is all about proper storage conditions. Since the opened condiment should be kept in a cool environment, it's best to position salsa towards the bottom of your fridge near the back where it will stay the coldest.

Regardless of whether you leave salsa inside its original jar or transfer it into another airtight container, always make sure to close the lid tightly each time you open it so as to limit the risk of oxidation. Additionally, to prevent the growth of bacteria and faster spoilage, it's also best not to cross-contaminate or double-dip, but rather scoop out the desired amount of salsa into another container when cooking or snacking with it.

If at any point between the time it was first opened and the 4 week mark store-bought salsa starts to display atypical characteristics, this could mean the condiment has passed its prime. Visually, spoiled salsa might have darkened colors, separated ingredients, or the presence of mold. Additionally, any off-putting or sour smells could be clues that the product should be tossed. When in doubt, it's safest to discard the condiment and avoid ruining your rapport with store-bought salsa.