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Are you a huge salsa fan who loves to top up your chips, nachos, and other crispy snacks with salsa? Were you unable to find the regular-sized salsa bottle the last time you visited the market, and now you have the large bottle lying around in your refrigerator?
Well, considering that salsa is a bit on the high-end side, you might be tense about the open jar of salsa in your fridge and wonder how long it could last without going bad. If yes, this guide has you covered.
The shelf life of salsa bought from the store is usually 7 to 10 days. However, if you make the salsa dressing at home, you can expect it to stay good for around 3 to 4 days. The storage life of salsa also depends on the method used for storing it and numerous other factors.
I have compiled a detailed guide for you explaining the shelf life of salsa and will also explore some methods you can use for effectively storing it in your refrigerator. So, keep reading to explore this and much more about salsa dressing in this write-up.
For How Long Does Salsa Stay Good In Fridge?
Salsa is one of the most loved condiments in the market and is preferred by multiple food lovers as a dressing to top up their snacks. But as this dressing is generally bought from stores and comes in a sealed jar, most people wonder about its shelf life after opening the jar and even unopened.
Typically, store-bought salsa can stay good for around 7 to 10 days, even after opening. But for this, you must seal it tightly and refrigerate it properly. On refrigerating the salsa, you can enjoy its fresh taste for the next 7 days, after which it might start smelling weird but still be good enough to be consumed for the next 3 to 4 days.
Moreover, if you don’t want to keep your salsa jar in the fridge and place it on the shelf, it will stay good for the next 10 to 14 days. Unlike other food options, the storage life of salsa is less when refrigerated, and it lasts for a long time when stored on the shelf.
The reason is that the salsa that’s supposed to go in the fridge is generally not cooked or pasteurized, significantly reducing its storage life.
On the contrary, jarred salsa typically goes through the processes of cooking or pasteurization, which keeps them fresh for a long time. This is also why you get some “fresh” feeling from consuming refrigerated salsa.
Freezing the salsa, however, can extend its storage life to up to 2 months. So, if you want your salsa dressing to stay good for the longest time, freezing the jar is the best option to go for.
Methods to Store Salsa
As I have mentioned above, the primary thing on which the storage life of salsa depends is the method you use for storing it. If this is your first time coming across an unopened salsa jar lying around and you have no idea how to store it properly to make it last for a long time and keep it from staying bad too early, this is the right place for you.
I have listed 3 simple methods to store salsa jars efficiently.
Method #1: Storing In Dark & Cold Places
The first method you can use to store the salsa jar you have recently bought so that it stays good for a long time is to keep it just as you store mayo or other sauces in your kitchen. For this, all you need to do is to keep the salsa jar in the dark and cold place in your home before opening it.
This method stands true for opened salsa jars at your place that you have bought to stock up on salsa. You can also keep opened salsa jars in a dark and cold place, for instance, your kitchen pantry, along with all other dips and sauces, but for this, you have to ensure that the jar is closed properly and is sealed tightly before placing it in the pantry.
Using this method, you can extend the storage life of salsa dip to around 7 to 14 days which is pretty good for a salsa dressing, considering that it has many ingredients mixed in it.
Method #2: Storing In the Fridge
Refrigeration is the next method that keeps salsa good for up to 7 to 10 days. Well, refrigeration is not the best option for salsa dressing and other such dips made using many ingredients and are sensitive to temperature changes.
Here is what you need to do to store your opened salsa jar in the fridge:
- Close the salsa jar lid properly to ensure no air gets inside it.
- You can also use a cling wrap to close it correctly.
- For this, cut the cling wrap to the size of the top of the salsa jar.
- Place the cling wrap on top of the salsa jar’s opening.
- Ensure that a little bit of the wrap is visible from the sides.
- Now, place the lid on top of the cling tap and tightly close it.
- Your salsa jar is all set to go into the refrigerator.
- Keep it in a place in the fridge where it can stay away from the outside warmth.
Method #3: Freezing the Salsa
The last method up here is the one you can use if you have made salsa at home and want it to last a long time.
Note: Here is a YouTube guide you can follow to see how to make salsa at home.
This is also the best method for storing salsa for later use, especially if you have made it as a gift for someone and want to give it to the person around a month later.
Here is how you can successfully freeze salsa:
- Start by closing the lid of the salsa jar properly.
- Once you know, it’s tightly closed, wrap a cling wrap around the lid.
- You can also cover some parts of the jar with the wrap.
Note: Covering the jar with cling wrap isn’t necessary, and you won’t see many people on the web recommending it. I like covering the jar, especially its lid, with a cling wrap to ensure that no air will pass through it.
- Now place the jar towards the back of the refrigerator so it doesn’t receive warmth from outside whenever the freezer’s gate is opened.
This method can keep the salsa fresh and good to use for the next 2 months. During this time, you can easily take out the salsa jar from the freezer, defrost it, and use it with the snacks or food options you want. However, it’s best not to take it out and defrost it every other day as this will significantly reduce its storage time.
Conclusion – How Long Does Salsa Last in Fridge?
In this guide, I have provided a simple answer to one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the salsa dip, i.e., how long does it last in the fridge? I also took you through some methods you can use to store the salsa dip the right way so its storage life is significantly increased.
Hopefully, this guide has cleared all your confusion regarding the salsa dressing, and you have no doubts in your mind regarding this dip you love. Enjoy it with fried potato chips; you won’t regret it.
