You just found a delicious apple pie recipe on your favorite cooking blog.
And now you’re wondering if you could use that same homemade applesauce from last week’s family dinner.
Or maybe you’ve found some bottles of applesauce sitting in your pantry for the longest time.
And now you’re skeptical about if you should use it this holiday season.
Whatever the scenario is at your end, since you are here, we believe that your concern directs towards the main question – how long does applesauce last?
Or, how to find out if your applesauce has turned bad?
If you have such similar questions regarding applesauce, you’ll be happy to know that you’ve landed on the right page.
In this article, we’ll give you all the insights about the longevity of applesauce. Or, what is termed as the shelf life and storage of applesauce.
If you want to learn more, continue reading.
How Long Does Applesauce Last? Does Applesauce Go Bad?
Let’s first talk about store-bought applesauce. Store bought applesauce is available in a wide range of varieties.
Thus, their shelf life will vary. So, your best bet to estimate their shelf lives is to check the manufacturer label while buying a jar of applesauce.
Manufacturer labels will either come with a best before date or expiration date.
If it comes with the best before/ best by date, you can consume it past the date provided that you store it well.
However, when it comes to an expiration label, we would suggest you just toss it out past the expiry date.
The shelf life of applesauce also depends upon how you store it – opened or unopened.
Generally, unopened store-bought applesauce has a shelf life of about three to four months past its best before date.
Once opened and used, the applesauce will have a shorter shelf life.
In case you forgot to refrigerate your opened jar of apple sauce and left it over the counter overnight, you may still be able to use it in the morning.
However, look out for signs of rancid applesauce before using (we’ll discuss more on that later).
More than that, we don’t advise you to store your used apple sauce anywhere outside the fridge.
Once you open your scrumptious jar of apple sauce, it can last for up to two weeks, provided that you store it in the refrigerator.
In fact, different manufacturers have different recommendations when it comes to maximum usage days.
For example, Holmes Apple Sauce recommends keeping their opened applesauce for thirty days and nothing more than that.
Now, let’s turn to fresh homemade applesauce. Most homemade applesauce does not contain any preservatives.
Thus, if you like making your own applesauce at home, we recommend you only make what’s required for the day.
In case you made extra and want to store it, you must pack it in an air-tight container and transfer it into the fridge.
Refrigerated homemade applesauce can last you for up to a week. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it.
How to Tell if Applesauce is Bad? Applesauce Shelf Life!
Whether you have left your used applesauce over the counter only to find it in the morning or discovered a neatly packed jar in the kitchen shelf, you can easily tell if your applesauce has gone bad by looking out for certain signs.
The first thing you can do is check the condition of the jar itself.
If some kind of oil is leaking out from the jar or if it is damaged in any way, that’s a clear sign that you need to toss it out.
If you don’t find any signs of damage on the jar, you can check the applesauce.
Most rancid applesauce will have some kind of molds on its surface or discolorations.
You can even give it a good whiff. If it has an off smell rather than its sweet aroma, chances are your applesauce has gone bad.
Also, stale applesauce will have a change in color. It usually turns brownish when the quality starts deteriorating.
If you cannot make out by the smell and looks of it, you can taste a little bit. If it tastes nothing like your usual applesauce, discard the whole jar.
Store bought applesauce has a longer shelf life because it contains some preservatives.
But when you make it at home or purchase organic applesauce, the chemicals present in the flesh of an apple are untreated.
Thus, when you leave fresh applesauce out in the open, it may oxidize (enzymatic browning) and cause your applesauce to turn bad.
How Long Does Applesauce Last? Does Applesauce Go Bad?
Ingredients
- Applesauce
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
- Label your container with the content and date and keep track of how much you’re using!
- Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).