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Are you more of a mayo person than a chill garlic sauce or ketchup one? Do you love stuffing your sandwiches and burgers with extra mayo sauce, making everything taste better? If yes, this write-up is undoubtedly something you will find interesting.
Though mayo is readily available everywhere and comes in different flavours and packaging, its storage concerns most users. Generally, mayo can stay good for over 2 months in the refrigerator after being opened. But this life of mayonnaise varies depending on numerous factors, which I will explore here for you.
After thorough research, I have put together a detailed guide for you to answer your primary concern regarding mayo, i.e., how long does it stay good after opening? I will also take you through some helpful storage methods for increasing the life of this condiment, along with answering some questions you might have regarding mayo.
For How Long Does Mayo Last After Being Opened?
If you have mayo at your home, you have a lot of dishes sorted. For instance, you can add mayo to your favorite chicken sandwich and make it a fulfilling meal. Similarly, mayo can be an important component of the egg and vegetable salads you make at home, and its tangy and somewhat sweet flavor can also enhance the taste of dressings and sauces.
However, usually, it’s believed that the shelf life of mayo is relatively less, and once you open it, you have to ensure to finish it as soon as possible. Another concept regarding the life of mayo is that it turns yellow after some time of opening it.
Though these conceptions are not totally wrong, there aren’t completely accurate either. Generally, a sealed jar of mayo can last for around three months in the pantry. However, once you open the jar, it should be kept in the refrigerator, which will last for over two months, even after the “best by” date.
These stats are true only for mayonnaise that you get from the market. As far as homemade mayo is concerned, it would only last for around a week and a half, after which you have to discard it as it won’t be good for use.
Methods for Storing Mayonaisse
Now that you have looked at mayonnaise’s shelf-life let me take you through some efficient methods for storing mayo. These methods, if implemented correctly, will help you increase the shelf-life of the mayo, and you won’t have to get rid of your unused mayonnaise every time.
Method #1: In the Refrigerator
The first and foremost method to store your mayonnaise so that it can last you a long time is to keep it in a refrigerator. I know this is not something many people don’t know about, but most users have lately started taking this fact too causally.
According to a report published by USDA, if the temperature of opened mayonnaise goes beyond 50 degrees Celsius, it must be tossed into the garbage can immediately. This report clearly demonstrates how crucial it is to keep your mayonnaise in the refrigerator to make it last longer.
Another thing you need to be careful about keeping the mayo in the refrigerator is to put it in an air-tight container or a jar with a lid you can close. It’s because the smell of mayonnaise is pretty strong, and keeping it in the refrigerator open will make every other item in the fridge smell like mayonnaise, and you won’t want that.
Also, when stored in an open jar, the mayonnaise can also go bad earlier. So, it’s best to shift it to some air-tight container or jar before placing it in the refrigerator.
Method #2: Using Yougurt Whey
This method you can use to store homemade mayonnaise is best for storing in the refrigerator. If you prefer homemade mayonnaise over the one you get in the market because the former lacks chemical preservatives and is easy to make at home, this method will work best for you.
If you don’t know already, yougurt whey has high lactic acid content in it, which is known for its preservation properties. Adding it to your homemade mayonnaise not only enhances the mayo’s taste but can add to its storage life and increase it from a week and a half to over two months.
Here are all the steps you need to follow for this:
- Take 2 cups of yougurt and drain it through a cheesecloth.
- The liquid that comes as the residue is Yougurt whey.
- Add 1 tsp of yougurt whey in a jar of homemade mayonnaise and stir it well.
- Keep the jar at room temperature for around six hours to activate the lactic acid in the whey.
- After six hours, shift the mayo to an air-tight jar and store it in the refrigerator.
FAQs
Can Mayonniase Be Stored In the Panty?
If you have not opened your mayonnaise yet, it’s best to store it in the pantry as it can last for around three months without going bad there. Also, this is how mayo is stored commercially. However, opened mayo should not be kept in the pantry as there are high chances for it to go bad even within 8 hours.
How To Know If Mayo Has Gone Bad?
Generally, the color of mayo is off-white. But if your mayonnaise has turned pale or yellow in the container and you can even feel that it smells a little weird, this most likely refers to the fact that your mayonnaise has gone bad. Sometimes you can even see mold on the surface of the mayonnaise on opening the jar, which is a clear sign of spoiled mayo.
Is It Possible to Get Food Poisoning From Mayonnaise?
No, unlike the common belief that mayo mixed in salads, tuna, chicken, and other foods is why food poisoning happens, mayonnaise is rich in acid, i.e., vinegar or citric acid, which is known for preventing bacterial growth; thus, no food poisoning.
Conclusion- How Long Is Mayo Good for After Opened?
In this guide, I have provided you with a detailed answer regarding the shelf-life of mayonnaise and talked about the storage life of both homemade and commercial mayonnaise.
I have also taken you through some storage methods you can use to store your mayonnaise efficiently and consequently increase its storage life. Hopefully, this guide will help you store your mayonnaise better in the future and avoid any health risks caused due to using spoiled mayo.
